Liberty is reviving a lost tradition, hosting its first football Kid Captain Night in nearly five years. In previous years, Kid Captain Night has honored a pediatric patient who has faced challenging medical situations, such as cancer and other chronic illnesses. Liberty has hosted Kid Captain Night in the past, but COVID put the tradition on hold.

“We wanted to bring back this tradition to help spread awareness about childhood cancer and bring positivity to the lives of young kids who need it,” said Rilyn Breinholt, 12 (she/her). 

Breinholt is a member of the Liberty High Difference Makers, a club that works to raise awareness for childhood terminal illness through different fundraisers and events throughout the community, such as the Dance Marathon. 

Today, Sep. 27, during the home football game against Prairie High School, Liberty will honor Cooper Estenson. Estenson is a future Liberty Bolt currently in remission from Lymphoblastic T-Cell Leukemia, a type of blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow and can spread to other organs. Following a diagnosis in 2021, Estenson was admitted to the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital where he underwent treatment. During this time, Estenson had to give up many things that he enjoyed, one of which was football.

“Cooper is a great kid and [he] looks up to the Liberty football players,” said Breinholt.

During the game, Estenson will join the team as they walk out onto the field and stand with the captains during the coin flip. Along with honoring Cooper, coaches from both the Liberty and Prairie cross-country teams will be recognized. Of the two teams combined, three of the coaches are cancer survivors. For the game, the Liberty and Prairie cross-country teams will work together to run the game ball to the field from the Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City.

The theme for tonight’s game is “Gold Out”, as September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and gold is the color that symbolizes childhood cancer. Both student sections, Liberty and Prairie will be participating in the “Gold Out” theme. For the game, the Difference Makers designed and sold gold t-shirts, all proceeds from which will go to the Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Attendees are encouraged to wear gold and be loud to show support for Cooper and to help raise awareness for childhood cancer.