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Pink Game Is Very
Personal For Checkers' Jakaitis

February 8, 2009

By Cliff Mehrtens
Staff Writer
© The Charlotte Observer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Charlotte Checkers goalie Jeff Jakaitis will have a lot more than hockey on his mind at Sunday's game.

The “Pink in the Rink” theme for the 4 p.m. ECHL game against the Florida Everblades at Time Warner Cable Arena is dedicated to raising money and awareness for nonprofit groups battling women's cancer: American Cancer Society, Carolina Breast Friends and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Jakaitis' mom, Ann, is a breast cancer survivor.

He was a senior in college at Lake Superior State in 2007 and had graduated on a Saturday. Two days later, when Jakaitis' parents were driving home to Rochester, Minn., she got the call from the doctor. She had cancer.

“She was behind on her checkups, and she's one of those puts-herself-last ladies,” Jakaitis said. “She was always taking care of my dad, my brother and me. She went in because she had kidney stones, and they made her take the other tests.”

Ann Jakaitis, 51, said her doctor's insistence saved her life. The cancer was in an early stage, and noninvasive. Still, the chemotherapy and radiation treatments “were hell,” she said.

Ann Jakaitis, who works in retail sales, became an advocate for women getting tested. It will be among the themes at today's game. The first two events raised more than $50,000.

Last season, when Jakaitis played in Columbia, his parents came down the weekend the team hosted a similar event. Ann Jakaitis had recently become cancer-free, and the game took on extra meaning for Jeff, 25.

“It made me appreciate both my parents a little more,” he said. “My parents have always been there for me, always been supportive. Sometimes you take that for granted. I realized they're not always going to be there, and it's something you need to really appreciate.”

The Checkers will wear pink and navy jerseys, which will be auctioned after the game. Donations also will come from ticket and merchandise sales. Fans are encouraged to wear pink.

Last fall, Ann Jakaitis organized a “Pink in the Rink” event in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. (where Jeff was in college), and raised more than $12,000.

“If I can convince one person to go in and get tested, it's all worth it,” she said. “It's all about early detection. My philosophy now is ‘No excuses.' I don't feel sorry for myself, but I'd never been involved in charities until now. I want to help, and would hate to have a young mother with children go through this. My goal is to help others who have everything to live for.”

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