Mercer’s Southard honors mother’s cancer fight during October

Each weekend during October, there are football games played all across the country, and at every level, featuring players donning pink gloves, towels, cleats, etc., in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Just like his spot at center for the Mercer Bears’ offensive line, Kirby Southard is right at the middle of it.

Southard, a senior, honors his mother, Missy, each game during October with a pink undershirt, pink tape on his cleats and a pink wrap around a brace on his wrist as his way to remember his mother’s history with cancer. Missy Southard was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2013, and the next year, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and my family has gone through some cancer stuff,” said Southard, who also has battled skin cancer. “I’m just trying to do my part and support the awareness movement while trying to get as much support and awareness out there.”

Southard has been going with the pink look every season of his Mercer career, and he has continued that this season. He said his parents make it to every game, and that continues at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Austin Peay.

“My family is already close together, that won’t bring us any closer than we already are. It makes you appreciate every day you have,” Southard said. “You don’t take a day for granted, no matter what you are going through. Every family fights, argues and bickers, but at the end of the day it’s the big picture in life. You just can’t take things for granted; your mom and your dad ... they’re not going to be there forever, so you’ve just got to make sure you love them every day and tell them, as well.

“It’s nice when everyone comes out the month of October and supports pink and everyone comes together with a common thing that affects people. My mom, it wasn’t exactly breast cancer that was going on, but she has had some other type stuff, and it was really great to go out there and try to support all the people who have gone through family struggles and try to just make people happy.”

This story was originally published October 20, 2016 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Mercer’s Southard honors mother’s cancer fight during October."