The Karns City high school football team does an annual “pink out” game to support breast cancer awareness and raise money for a related organization.

Bob Hackbarth, treasurer of the boosters organization, the Karns City Gremlin Quarterback Club, said that this year a portion of the funds raised will be given to the school’s principal, Brenda Knoll, who is undergoing cancer treatment.

The response to the team’s fundraiser, a T-shirt sale, has been greater as a result.

“We normally don't take it this far,” Hackbarth said. “Usually what we do is donate a portion of the 50/50 raffle to a breast cancer organization. This is the first time we are supporting an individual versus just an entire group.”

Knoll designed the T-shirts, which are black with a pink ribbon on the front. The front says “Knoll Strong,” and the back says, “In this family, no one fights alone.”

Hackbarth said the team sold hundreds of shirts in a two-week presale. Half of the money raised will be donated to Knoll, and the other half donated to the Magee-Womens Research Institute. Hackbarth said he wants to keep the amount of money the program raised a secret until the reveal at the game Friday.

He expects the crowd at Friday’s home football game against Brookville to be flooded with the shirts.

“I'm very pleased, especially with the quick turnaround we had,” Hackbarth said. “It's bigger than I had hoped for; it's great.”

Hackbarth said people outside the Karns City Area School District community have purchased shirts as well, particularly people in the Moniteau School District, where Knoll previously worked.

The show of support for Knoll and the fundraiser has been uplifting, Hackbarth said.

“It just shows how a small town like ours supports each other,” Hackbarth said.

Donations can be forwarded to Gremlin Quarterback Club at P.O. Box G, Karns City, 16041, Attn: Breast Cancer Research.