It was a like a scene from a movie. Colleen Mullen walked towards the lacrosse field at Sagamore Middle School and a rush of emotional swam through her when she saw the color pink.
Players draped their lacrosse stick heads, shoe laces and other places in pink strings last week to honor Mullen, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February and is going through chemotherapy as a precaution after having a double-mastectomy.
Mullen's son Thomas, 14, plays on the team.
Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"I can't even tell the story without crying," said a grateful Mullen. "I knew the boys wanted to do something special for me, but I didn't know what was going on. I was touched to my soul. Some of the boys don't even know who I am."
Maybe they've noticed her sitting at every game, wearing a bandana, rooting on Sagamore's youth. Regardless of knowing Mullen, her son, or neither, Sagamore rallied around one of its own when it counts most.
Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A similar touch of emotion was felt at the University of Delaware two weeks ago when the team wore pink strings in honor of Elaine Fosner, the mother of goalie Noah Fossner who passed away from breast cancer in early May.
Mullen is fortunate with her situation.
"I'm thinking positive," she said. "I can not leave this Earth. I can't leave my children. I'm just very touched by this all."
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
