Pink is not a school color, but both of the Hillsdale College basketball teams will be sporting rosy colored warm-ups at 6 p.m. tonight.
Basketball teams throughout the GLIAC will be wearing pink shirts and shoelaces this month in support of breast cancer research. Women’s coach Claudette Charney said that she and her team gladly participate in the cause.
“We will wear the T-shirts and pink warm-ups before the game, as will all other teams in the GLIAC conference,” Charney said.
In 2007, the Women’s Basketball Coach Association began Pink Zone, which has since changed its name to Pink Wave, to raise awareness of breast cancer. The initiative has raised over $3.3 million involving more than 4,700 participants since its conception. The Pink Wave partners with the Kay Vow Cancer Fund during the doubleheader events to raise money for breast cancer research.
The Hillsdale Student Athlete Advisory Committee has taken on Pink Wave as its primary charity event on campus. All the money raised will be for the Pink Wave and Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Shirts for fundraising will be sold at lunch and at the tonight’s game against Ohio Dominican University. T-shirts are sold for $8, and long sleeve shirts are $12. Every dollar raised for shirts will be sent back for breast cancer research.
“We’re not offering a different source of entertainment, the cool thing is that both [basketball] teams are shifting their focus from themselves to a bigger cause,” said senior Clara Leutheuser, SAAC president. “We’re hoping to raise $1,000 or more this year.”
During the men’s half time game, there will also be a 3-point shooting contest to raise additional money. After paying $1, participants are paid back $2 for each basket they make until the reach three baskets. Each basket made after the first three can earn prizes from the team tables, which will have Hillsdale shirts and hats.
Among the other half-time contests, there will be a 50-50 raffle for the first winner selected. Names that are drawn can choose prizes from the team tables.
“It would be great if the Chargers and the cause saw a lot of support,” Leutheuser said.
Yesterday, members of the SAAC volunteered at Hillsdale’s Kroger grocery store by bagging groceries and handing out flyers to involve the community in the Pink Wave event on campus. Leutheuser and SAAC advisor Nicole Dzubay both agreed that everyone has been pitching in to this Pink Wave event to make it successful.
“It’s our team’s last home game so that’s a good reason to come.” Leutheuser said. “Other than that, it’s always good to support something big – like a cause to eliminate breast cancer.”
