Saturday night August 16, Orlando City SC swapped their standard purple kits for pink to raise money and awareness for an important cause – Women Playing for TIME – an organization dedicated to making a positive impact on women facing cancer.

Lions’ stars and goal scorers of the evening Darwin Cerén and Kevin Molino, along with all their teammates, had their jerseys available for auction to directly benefit cancer Technology, Immediate diagonosis, Mammography and Education (T.I.M.E.) at UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health. For more information, visit www.womenplayingfortime.org.

We don’t have to look far to see how this program benefits patients – take Orlando City Season Ticket Member Heather’s story as an example. On her 42nd birthday, Heather went in for her annually scheduled mammogram, but this time the results were not what she, her husband Shawn or her doctors had hoped. Shortly thereafter, this young lady was diagnosed with breast cancer.

However, the cancer was discovered early enough to avoid grueling treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. Heather underwent a bilateral mastectomy and initial stage of breast reconstruction at UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health. She and her husband are eagerly looking forward to September 3rd, when they will celebrate her one-year anniversary of being cancer-free.

“I was very fortunate to have caught my cancer extremely early but the mastectomy and reconstruction process is a lot to deal with on its own. I did have a very positive experience in my stay and, in fact, made a special request to have my surgery take place at ORMC,” she said. “I’m grateful to the amazing doctors and staff, and to my amazing husband for his support through all this.”

Heather is one of the many patients who directly benefit from the Women Playing for Time program. The mission of Women Playing for TIME is to partner with Orlando Health Foundation in support of UF Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health to defeat cancer as it affects women and their families and friends. It does so by engaging women through events and programs, providing financial resources, raising awareness among women to safeguard their own health and educating the public about programs and services at UF Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health.

Orlando Health is the official healthcare partner of Orlando City SC.