Some local middle school soccer players are raising awareness of breast cancer after finding out their coach's wife had breast cancer.

Cary Academy's middle school boys soccer team registered to walk in the American Cancer Society's breast cancer walk Saturday, October 3 at North Hills in Raleigh.

The boys kept their plans a secret until they e-mailed the coach on September 30.

Head Coach Darren Masier said he was awed by the support from his team.

"It's such a heartfelt gesture that has made it all the way to my wife," he said. "She is all smiles from it and it makes a big, big difference."

Team Captain Kyle Lerch came up with the plan to walk on Saturday.

"My family has personally been affected by cancer with a couple of deaths this year," Lerch said. "I feel like coach has really been like a second dad to a lot of our players and it just really felt like the right thing to do."

Masier, his wife and their son will join the team at the walk.

The team has already raised more than $600 for breast cancer research.