Saturday, November 8, 2025
In a heartfelt tribute to the late mother of a varsity cheerleader, John F. Kennedy High School will host a game night and clinic on Oct. 4, uniting the community to support breast cancer awareness and the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.
Although October is focused on bringing attention to breast cancer, the school's teams have decided to combine pink and green at their home game. The Kennedy High School cheerleading team is spearheading a community campaign to raise awareness for bile duct cancer, along with breast cancer.
“Having this as an additional initiative with it can help carry on her fight and help spread awareness to something so widespread.” cheerleader Chloe Mikhail said of her mother Erica, who passed away in November 2024 after a 10-month battle with bile duct cancer.
The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, founded to address gaps in knowledge surrounding bile duct cancer, raises money to cure and improve patients' quality of life. The foundation offers caregiver support, a mentorship program, and fundraising research into cancer.
Erica Mikhail was diagnosed in January 2024 and the disease rapidly spread until her passing. Her story emphasizes the importance of this event, which aims to honor her memory while raising awareness and support for cancers that are often difficult to detect in their early stages.
“There are a lot of other charities that focus on rare cancers and rare diseases, but this one specifically provides resources to patients and families, it funds research, and spreads awareness altogether,” Mikhail said. “I think it will definitely help to give attention to the cancer my mom had, which it deserves.”
T-shirts and hoodies were created to show support and are being sold both before and during the game. Clinic participants will also receive the apparel and wear it during their halftime performance, highlighting both cancer foundations with Kennedy’s pink and green colors.
Each October, Kennedy cheerleaders host their annual clinic, which usually falls on the same night as the school’s Breast Cancer Awareness game. Over time, it became known as the ‘Pink Clinic’ because of the overlap. This year, though, the event carries added meaning as the team also honors the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.
The varsity and junior varsity cheer teams will teach those participating in the children’s clinic, a routine that will later be showcased during the halftime show at the game for the crowd and parents.
The clinic and game will also incorporate a board that will have both pink and green ribbons available. People will have the opportunity to donate a dollar and write a message on the ribbons.
Linda Pusateri, Kennedy’s varsity cheerleading coach, helped to involve all the sports teams that represent the school during football games.
“They didn't even hesitate,” she said. “They were like, ‘Absolutely, [we] love it.”
Additionally, a 50-50 raffle will be held at the football game, with all of the proceeds going to the foundation, along with the money from the shirts, ribbon board, and clinic. Local businesses are chipping in for the raffle or just donating to aid in funding research for such a rare cancer.
“We're trying to just get as much community support as possible,” said Yana Kondak, a mother of one of Mikhail’s teammates, who is very involved in the fundraiser.
Chloe Mikhail wants to support others struggling with the same disease, and she took the initiative in doing that when proposing this fundraiser.
That support has extended from the sidelines, where her coach has watched Chloe’s leadership and resilience with pride. Emphasizing the pride in Mikhail’s initiative dedicated to care and remembrance.
“I hope people see how strong this kid is and that she’s trying to make some suggestions, trying to help someone else, even with what’s happened,” Pusateri said. “I’m proud of the way she’s been promoting it and talking about it.”
As the school prepares for the event, parents, faculty, and students see Mikhail’s strength as a source of inspiration for the entire community.
“I give her all the credit in the world for what she's been doing; it's very impressive,” Pusateri said.
So far, the team raised roughly $800 in donations, not including clinic registration fees. All proceeds will benefit the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation and breast cancer awareness efforts, and donations will be matched by Johnson & Johnson.
Those wishing to contribute can do so at: Give.Cholangiocarcinoma.org/fundraiser/6649980.
