• Josh Duren plays for his sister, Paige.

OKEMOS - A game is a game, sure, but sometimes a game can change a life. Okemos beat the MIHSSCA's No. 1-ranked Mason, 2-0, in the fourth annual "Compete for a Cause" soccer match aimed to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer Saturday night.

Leading the cause was Okemos mom Pam Duren, who witnessed her daughter, Paige, beat cancer nearly two years ago.

"We took a few pictures by the ribbon donation net, and I started to get teary-eyed, just looking at my daughter and where she is now," Duren said after the game. "It was a very emotional night."

Not only was Pam's daughter in attendance, but her son, Josh, played in the game, itself. The name on the back of his jersey stood out among the rest. It read "My Sister".

"As much as they are teenagers, they love each other very much," (Pam) Duren said. "She knows that he supports her."

"The great thing about the jerseys from last year is the boys wore them all the time, and I know we will see that this year again. They will wear those jerseys proudly."

Paige saw not only her brother's love for herself, but his passion to battle for those still battling.

"(He's) Fighting for other kids that our going through treatment because they really need the help," (Paige) Duren said.

After playing for his victorious sister, a triumphant Josh summed up the night perfectly.

"It was just an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life."

In the first ever night soccer match at Okemos, the turnout was record-breaking as attendance neared 2000, according to Okemos athletic director Ira Childress. All funds will go directly to the St. Baldrick's Foundation and the Michigan State Oncology Clinic.

"We had tons of Mason people here, and people who don't even have kids in high school or are involved in the soccer community," (Pam) Duren said.

"We at least doubled, I would say, our proceeds from last year." Last year, the match raised $11,000.