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Friday, October 10, 2008

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Basketball teams Think Pink to raise awareness

BY MELINDA PETRE

In print | February 21, 2008

The men’s basketball team, Dickinson College’s women’s and men’s teams, as well as gameday officials joined the Swarthmore women’s basketball team as they participated in the Women’s Basketball Coaching Association’s “Think Pink” week on Feb. 9.

“Think Pink” week was created in 2007 to raise breast cancer awareness in women’s basketball, as well as on campuses and in communities. Their mission is to create “a global, unified effort for the WBCA nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.”

This year over 900 teams nationally participated in the time spanning Feb. 8-17. Referees joined the initiative with their own “Calling for a Cure” campaign, in which all NCAA Women’s officials blew pink whistles to signify their commitment to the cause.

“As female athletes ourselves, we felt that the least we could do was to support the ‘Think Pink’ initiative in whatever way possible. We wore pink warm-up t-shirts, pink shoelaces and sweatbands, and the referees had pink whistles,” explained Karen Berk ’08.

Dickinson players also willingly joined in with the Swarthmore team to express their dedication to the cause. “It was honestly very nice to be able to unite with Dickinson for the ‘Think Pink’ initiative,” Berk added.

Prior to the game, the Swarthmore captains read information about breast cancer to teams and fans. “For a brief moment before the game, we were not standing on the sideline as two opposing teams,” recalled Berk. Pam Costello ’10 added, “I think this is important because it really puts sports in perspective. We were easily able to put our rivalry aside and focus on something much bigger than basketball.”

“The statistics about breast cancer that were read by our captains before the game hit extremely close to home—one in three women will have breast cancer so that means that probably two of our teammates will be faced with it during their lifetimes. When you think of it in those terms, it really makes you think about the gravity of the situation,” explained Kristen Traband ’08.

The men’s teams also showed their support for the initiative by wearing pink shirts. “It was great that the men’s teams joined us. Breast cancer isn’t a disease that affects just women — millions of men are affected when their mothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters and friends are diagnosed, so it’s important that everyone, not just women show their support in finding a cure for the disease,” said Traband.

Concession proceeds from the doubleheader went to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, contributing over three hundred dollars to the cause.

All of the teams are looking forward to participating in “Think Pink” week again next year. “I am hoping we can further our involvement next year,” explained Costello. “At the rate the program is expanding, I am sure numerous other college sports teams, not just women’s basketball teams, will join the program.”

You can visit the Web site www.wbca.org/thinkpink.asp for more information on “Think Pink” week and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

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