ECHS Football Players Don Pink Shoes for Breast Cancer Awareness

When five members of the El Cerrito High School football squad showed up in pink shoes on Friday – the school's homecoming day – Athletic Director George Austin's initial reaction was not delight.

"I was about ready to light into them, and they reminded me that this was Breast Cancer Awareness Month," Austin said.

"In tribute to our head football coach, they went out and bought pink shoes," he said, praising the young men's enterprising gesture of support.

The team's well-liked coach, Kenny Kahn, organized a school fund-raising drive for cancer research last year after his mother, Madelyn Kahn, was diagnosed with breast cancer. He challenged the students, saying he would shave his head if they raised $3,000. The school principal at the time, Jason Reimann, and two other administrators – Assistant Principal Marcos Garcia and Instructional Specialist Humphrey Kiuruwi – agreed to do the same.

The students responded enthusiastically, raising more than double the goal: $6,400.

So in a school pep rally on March 4 last year, Coach Kahn sat in a chair in the middle of the gym as his mother sheared his head with electric clippers. (See accompanying photos.) The funds were raised for the Women's Cancer Resource Center. 

Kahn, who played football at El Cerrito High when Austin was head football coach, is popular not only for who he is but also because of the team's remarkable success since he became head coach in 2008.

This year so far has been especially impressive with the varsity squad racking up several one-sided victories for a 7-0 overall record and a division leading 3-0 performance in the Rock division of the Tri-County Athletic League.

The five players in high-top pink cleats Friday were Jaylen Harvey, Keilan Benjamin, Derik Calhoun, Keith Benjamin and Adarius Pickett.

Also on Friday, the coaching staff also work pink and gray sweatshirts.

"You might say the Gauchos were in the pink this past week," Austin said.