Landmark Teams Supporting Cancer Research

MADISON, N.J. - Several Landmark Conference women's basketball teams will be showing their support for the WBCA "Think Pink" initiative during conference games on Saturday Feb. 9.

Events in support of the WBCA initiative have been announced at Landmark games at Moravian, Scranton and Susquehanna.

The WBCA "Think Pink" program's goal is to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, both on campus and in communities nationwide. The organization's "Think Pink" week begins this Friday, February 8 and runs through Sunday, February 17.

At the Landmark game between Drew and Scranton All fans wearing any type of pink apparel will be admitted free to both games of the Scranton-Drew Landmark Conference doubleheader, which begins with the women's game at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.

At Susquehanna the Crusaders are participating in the annual "Think Pink" event, sponsored by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to raise awareness about breast cancer.  More than 750 college and high school teams throughout the country are expected to participate.

Susquehanna's team hopes to create a "pink out" at their game against the Gophers. Both teams will wear pink shirts for their pre-game warm ups. Fans also are encouraged to wear pink, and free T-shirts will be available for those with wardrobes lacking the pastel hue. Susquehanna's cheerleaders will also don pink tops and wave pink pom-poms.

The T-shirt logo - featuring the pink ribbon breast cancer icon and a basketball - was designed by Courtney Thibeault, a senior hoops player and graphic design major from Brielle, N.J.

Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, which supports breast cancer research as their national philanthropy, will be on hand with information about breast cancer, including how to do a self-examination, breast health basics and the ABC's of breast health.  Evangelical Community Hospital is providing additional information about breast health.

Donations will be accepted during the event for the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund. Zeta Tau Alpha is also collecting lids from Yoplait yogurt as part of their "Save Lids to Save Lives" campaign.

In the past, the Moravian women's basketball team has participated in the Coaches vs. Cancer event by getting pledges and having raffles at one of their games during the season. This season, the women's program is excited to be a part of the "Think Pink" initiative, and head coach Mary Beth Spirk and assistant coach Amy Endler commented on the importance of participating in this event.

"The WBCA is promoting "Think Pink" and as part of this organization, I want our team to be involved to "assist with the fight," stated coach Spirk. "Any time we, as in coaches and the basketball team, can be involved in awareness and subsequently fundraising for cancer research, we will be.  Everyone has been affected with this terrible disease unfortunately, friends, family or self, and any help, no matter how small, will go a long way into hopefully one day finding a cure.  It is also a perfect opportunity to bring the Moravian College community together."

As part of the effort for the "Think Pink" event, the women's basketball team will be selling pink t-shirts, beginning on Friday, February 1st in the Haupert Union Building for fans to wear to the game against U.S. Merchant Marine on Saturday, February 9th.

"I believe that this event is important for the obvious reason of raising money and awareness for breast cancer," said coach Endler. "But on a more local level I think that it is great that a small school like Moravian is getting involved in a program that is nationwide with over 750 schools signed up to participate.  Only two schools in the Landmark Conference are participating in this event (Susquehanna is the other).  Also the fact that we will be wearing pink uniforms will also be special since I don't think many Division III schools have that opportunity.  Dr. James Frommer, the athletics team physician, and Jessie Coughlin Milner '99, donated money so we were able to purchase these uniforms."

On game day, the Greyhounds will be sporting pink uniforms and donations can be made for every assist made during the game. Moravian is currently averaging 12 assists per game. The funds this year will be going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

For more information on the WBCA and the "Think Pink" initiative, check out their website at www.wbca.org/thinkpink.asp.