Pink sporting events sweep colleges, high schools
By John Dudley, Erie Times-News, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"My mother-in-law had just been diagnosed, so it was a very personal thing for me and my wife," said Darling, whose wife, Elizabeth, serves on the board of directors for Linked By Pink, an Erie nonprofit that assists breast cancer patients and their families.
At the time, Darling said, he wasn't sure how many of his players shared such a strong connection to the disease his team recognizes with its annual "Dig Pink" match, during which players wear pink warmups, jerseys or accessories and solicit donations that benefit Linked by Pink.
"But that's the part of it that's changed a lot," he said. "As breast cancer has become more common even just since then, we have more and more players who have a family member or know someone who has had it."
This year's "Dig Pink" match against
Most of the athletes, coaches and even game officials involved in those events will wear something pink in recognition of the colored awareness ribbon that's become a universal symbol for breast cancer awareness.
Many youth, high school, college and
Even before the
The first
In 2007, the WBCA established the
One result of the increased interest in breast cancer awareness events has been a dramatic increase in pink-themed products, particularly for sports.
The WCBA designates hundreds of games each year as "
"I think the reason it's become so big is because cancer, especially breast cancer, touches the lives of almost all females and it can happen to anyone," said
The women's basketball team holds an annual pink-themed game in January or February, and a few years ago used the event to recognize former star player
Wheeler said the basketball program receives assistance from other groups on campus, including Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, which helps solicit donations at designated basketball and football games. The money is donated to a local or national cancer research organization.
"It's a great way for us to reach out to the community and I think it means a lot to our players," Wheeler said.
At Mercyhurst, the women's field hockey team will hold a pink-themed event later this month, and the women's hockey and women's basketball teams will have games to benefit breast cancer research later in the year.
Sports information director
High schools have joined the movement as well.
To date, the effort has raised more than
"There's hardly anybody in our stands or in our schools who hasn't been touched by cancer in some way," Becker said. "Plus it's an opportunity for our student-athletes to learn the importance of doing things for other people, to be compassionate."
Several other
The fundraiser games become personal because many student-athletes' family members have been affected by cancer.
The pink events aren't reserved for the fall high school seasons.
Hockey players aren't too tough to get into the act either.
Many other high school programs throughout
As for college, the Penn State Behrend women's soccer team holds a pink-themed fundraiser match each fall. Head coach
Last year, the team recognized sophomore
"She (Burgdolt's mother) came out on the field and we brought her roses," sophomore
Darling, the Gannon women's volleyball coach, said the Knights typically offer the visiting team at their annual "Dig Pink" match the chance to participate as well.
"It's the one time every year that two teams playing against each other come together against a common opponent," Darling said.
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