OCEAN CITY – One of the colors that arrives in the fall isn’t standard on changing leaves. It’s an especially vibrant neon pink that stands out on athletes’ socks, jerseys and T-shirts and is seen sprouting in oddly neat shocks on people’s heads.
The pink explosion is in honor of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are “pink” games used to raise awareness and a particular initiative in Ocean City to add those locks of pink to normally blonde and brunette heads.
There was a pink field hockey game Oct. 6 at Carey Stadium between the OCHS Red Raiders and visiting Mainland Regional High School. Before the game, players gathered on the field to honor Mikenzie Helphenstine, a beloved Ocean City Primary School teacher and coach in the school district who succumbed to cancer May 4, 2022.
Mikenzie’s mother, Jane Custer, was on the field with Carrie Merritt, one of Coach H’s longtime friends and colleagues.
“We celebrate Mikenzie every day,” Custer said. “We find a way to celebrate her because that’s the way she would like it – the fact that we can raise money to raise awareness about cancer.”
“It means a lot,” she said about the pink hair initiative. “I just feel like it is Mikenzie conducting this drive still the way she would.” Smiling, Custer added, “Still bossing everybody around.”
Her daughter started the initiative before her first bout of cancer. Others have kept it going since her death.
Merritt said there is a profound importance having the pink games because it has affected so many children in the district and their families. “Mikenzie Helphenstine, talk about the ultimate Ocean City legend. Longtime coach, friend, mentor, fighter. She will forever be a part of this program, forever be a part of our school district,” Merritt said.
Not far from the field, OCHS students were adding the pink hair to fellow students.
“I think this is a wonderful experience for everyone a part of it,” said Key Club member Sarah Smith. “I think it’s a great way to honor Coach H and raise awareness and support for everyone who’s been affected by breast cancer.”
Fellow Key Club member Malley MacTiernan said members do activities such as supporting the pink hair initiative and “a bunch” of other fundraisers for causes because “we just love our community.”
“This just shows how much much my sister meant to all of these kids,” Tiffany (Custer) Park said, noting that includes some who never had the chance to be taught or coached by her. “They just realize how many people she touched.”
Park said it is important to her to be involved.
“It’s really, truly just something really special and I am honored to be a part of it,” Park said. “It’s a blessing and I tear up a lot through this month, seeing all of these kids” helping raise money and awareness.
Erin Thompson, program director at the Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club in Linwood, said the non-profit collaborates with schools, sports teams, small businesses and others “to have the pink hair movement kind of take over Ocean City.
“The pink hair strands cost $10 each and are a way to raise money,” Thompson said, in part to get back into the high school and do support groups there. “It’s all full circle.”
She lauded the pink games and pink hair initiative.
“It raises awareness in the community for us because we offer a free program of support for cancer patients and their families. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is so big all over the country,” she said, “but we serve all cancers. It’s not just patients. It’s people who’ve lost someone to cancer. We offer a free program of different support groups, healthy lifestyle workshops like yoga, meditation, healthy cooking, education lectures,” she added. “Things to help people get support and education as their go through their cancer treatment and survivorship.”
She likes the activities taking place – “anything and everything that brings awareness to people because everyone is touched by cancer in some way, shape or form. It’s hard to find somebody who doesn’t have a cancer experience in their life, whether through themselves or through a family member or friend,” Thompson said.
“I also think it shows the value of support in a community, especially in a small town like Ocean City,” she said. “I think it makes everybody feel connected.”
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
