The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School boys and girls varsity soccer teams will be raising awareness and funds to fight cancer during their home games this upcoming weekend.

The teams have their sole home night games of the season coming up, with the boys playing Friday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. against Falmouth and the girls playing Saturday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. against Archbishop Williams.

The event is officially dubbed I Red Card Cancer. Matt Malowski, head coach of the girls team, said he was brainstorming ideas last year for ways the team could give back to the community, which led to the first edition of the event during the 2024 season. This year, the boys team will be participating as well.

“I wanted to make it a little bit more formal and a little bit more special this year,” Mr. Malowski said.

Younger recreational soccer players will also take part, walking out with the varsity players, all of whom will wear T-shirts symbolizing the event. QR codes will be posted around the bleachers for a donation link to the American Cancer Society.

The event is also a chance to highlight the long tradition of Vineyard soccer.

“We want the younger rec girls to see the older high school girls playing and get excited about playing high school soccer and having some connection with them in some sort of way,” Mr. Malowski said. “It’s a great community event for us as well to do all that.”

Mr. Malowski recognizes that cancer is personal for many members of the community, including himself. His wife has battled cancer and his mother is currently going through the treatment journey.

“All the fans and players will have a red card and be standing like a referee would be, saying I Red Card Cancer,” he said.

The girls are starting the season off strong with a 6-2 record. Mr. Malowski hopes the players and the fans come to support both teams for a good cause.

“It’s a non-league game and [Archbishop Williams] is a really good team, so hopefully it will be some really good soccer,” he said. “Typically for our night games, we try to make a little bit more special than just a normal game.”