Students of Scholarship will be hosting a kickball tournament this Saturday to benefit children with cancer.

The organization is partnering with Kick-it, a national fundraising program that raises money for children’s cancer research.

Kick-it at KSU proceeds will go directly to the Kick-it headquarters and benefit both local and national cancer patients.

It partners with Harvard Medical School, CureSearch, The Children’s Oncology Group and The Children’s Tumor Foundation. This allows them to reach more than 90 percent of children with cancer in the United States.

“Kick-it partners with national medical advisory boards to identify the most promising research studies,” said Andrew Hunt, president of Students of Scholarship and event organizer. “All donations raised at our event will be sent directly to the Kick-it organization, and these proceeds will benefit pediatric, adolescent and young adult cancer research as well.”

Hunt said that he wanted to get involved with the organization after being encouraged by others who have been involved with it.

“I thought it was a really cool thing to do, because I thought people around here would like to play in kickball tournaments,” Hunt said. “My grandma and other relatives have cancer, so I guess I like to help out things that try to find a cure for it.”

Anyone can register a team, and there are no restrictions on who can participate. Each team must consist of a minimum of seven to 12 members. Each team member will be asked to donate at least $5.

Any individual who raises $50 will receive a free Kick-it T-shirt.

A 10-year-old cancer patient who aspired to cure cancer by playing kickball founded Kick-it.

“More than 40,000 children undergo treatment each year,” according to Kick-it’s website. “While the overall cure rate now approaches 80 percent, one in five children still loses his or her battle with cancer and three out of five children who survive cancer suffer devastating, late effects such as secondary cancers, muscular difficulties and infertility.”

The event will be at the Kent State Student Recreation and Wellness Center at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Contact Christina Suttles at [email protected].