Limestone College

Photo and Story by Scott Powell of the Gaffney Ledger

(left to right) volleyball player Chelsea Anthony, women's soccer player Bekki Hagarman and men's soccer player Ali Benson.

Limestone College women's soccer player Bekki Hagarman wears a specially designed patch on her uniform that all Limestone athletic teams will display this year.

Limestone College sports teams will wear a specially designed patch on their uniforms this year to mark community unity and support in the wake of a series of serial killings. The patch consists of a giant peach overlaid with the number "5" in memory of five people killed in a string of shootings in Cherokee County last summer. It was designed by the Limestone College athletics department to support a fall speaker series organized by the college chaplain's office.

"Everyone was touched by what happened over the summer. We all had friends and family members who were affected by this tragedy," Limestone College Athletic Director Mike Cerino said. "Limestone College is a part of the Cherokee County community. We decided to really get behind (Limestone College chaplain) Ron Singleton's speaker series as a way to educate our students and help promote healing in the community."

All Limestone College athletes will wear the peach patch on their athletic gear to all games this season. The college's athletes will be attending the fall speaker series to learn more on the topics of forgiveness and healing.