This year the Pearl River Community College women’s softball cancer awareness game is hitting a little closer to home.

In September 2013, Head Softball Coach Leigh White was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. For that reason, the team decided instead of a breast cancer awareness game, they would show their support by hosting a “purple game,” a color that represents Hodgkin’s Lymphoma awareness.

The title of the game “Fight for White,” comes from a cheer the team started using after White’s diagnosis, said Donna Herndon, one of the game organizers.

Herndon, whose daughter Hannah and Brianna play on the team, said the players have been working hard to raise funds and think of ways to support their coach.

“They’re trying to fight with her through this,” Herndon said.

The team is selling heather purple “Fight for White” t-shirts as part of the fundraiser and will also sell barbeque plates from Stonewall’s at the game.

Heather Benoit, another game organizer, said the shirts will be on sale leading up the game and at the gates.

Herndon said fundraising for the game has gone beyond the Poplarville campus. She said t-shirts are also being sold at the Hattiesburg campus.

The players have been trying to incorporate purple during the games in any way they can, Herndon said. This has included wearing purple armbands and ribbons.

Despite White’s diagnosis and treatments, which ended earlier this month, Herndon said she has continued teaching, coaching and being there for her players.

The games will take place Saturday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. against Co-Lin Community College.

The proceeds from the game will go to the employee cancer fund set up by Pearl River Community College.

For more information or to purchase a t-shirt, call Herndon at 601-403-1179 or Benoit at 601-403-1250 or you can visit www.prcc.edu and click on Softball Cancer Awareness.