by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

The Foothill Storm Soccer Club’s 2015 and 2016 teams will once again don pink jerseys and socks during October games to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Following a recent collaboration between the teams and Claremont Police Department, this year’s uniform will feature a new detail: a pink CPD patch. CPD school resource officer Jeff Dunbar distributed the new jerseys out to players October 2 at June Vail Park.

Top row (L-R) Foothill Storm boys 11- and-under coach Brandon Gonzalez, CPD Lt. David DeMetz, CPD officer Jeff Dunbar, CPD captain Robert Ewing, Storm 10-and-under coach Matt Barker. Middle row (L-R) 11-and-under players Bodie Gonzalez, Will Suttner, Cruz Escareno, Mathew Urias, Danny Montes, Owen Fairley, Sebastian Rodriguez, Greyson Harvey, and Harrison Collinsworth. Bottom row (L-R) 10-and-under players Adrian Salgado Romero, Levi Adams, Troy Figueroa, Lonnie Abramov, Isaak Perez, Luka Barker, Austin Bolle, Samba Mbengue, and Cruz Barker. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

The moment was especially sweet for 9-year-old Levi Adams, a winger for Storm 2016, who is wearing the jersey in honor of his grandmother, Lisa Adams, who is recovering after her second treatment for breast cancer, and the doctors who treated her.

“It was tough last year going through the chemo,” said Levi’s father Jimi Adams. “Levi would always ask, ‘Oh how come grandma’s not at my game?’ and ‘Why’s grandma wearing this beanie?’ You know, as she was losing her hair. But luckily, God is good and she was able to come out and beat it.”

He asked his mother, Lisa Adams, to watch for something unique. “I told her to come to the [October 5] game,” Jimi Adams said. “There’s going to be a special debut of a new jersey and we’ll see if we can get a goal in celebration in front of grandma.”

Both Foothill Storm teams picked up shutout wins October 5, the 11-and-unders 3-0 over Progressive Soccer Ozzy, the 10-and-unders 8-0 against Empire Surf, and 6-0 over Empire Surf North One.

It’s the first year Storm teams have worn CPD patches. Coach Brandon Gonzalez said he hopes it inspires other teams to do the same. Dunbar said Jimi Adams got the effort rolling.

“Jimi [Adams] reached out to me and I just couldn’t be more thrilled … with the opportunity to come in and support not only CPD, but City of Hope and breast cancer for October,” Dunbar said. “It’s just amazing that they came in, were able to buy the number of patches that they bought and I’m so thrilled to come out here and join these kids and let them represent not only for breast cancer, but also with the pink patch on their shoulders.”

Proceeds from the CPD pink patch project benefit City of Hope breast cancer research.

Those looking to purchase the $10 pink patch or a $20 challenge coin — $25 for both — can visit CPD at 570 W. Bonita Ave., Claremont from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Search “Pink Patch Project” at claremontca.gov for more info.

The Storm 2015s next game is 10:50 a.m. Saturday, October 18 at June Vail Park, at Grand Avenue and Bluefield Drive. The 2016s play the Claremont Stars Black at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, October 11 at El Roble Intermediate School, 665 N. Mountain Ave., and City Soccer Club Southwest at 9:25 a.m. October 18 at June Vail Park.