Pink Zone promotes awareness
Valentine’s Day weekend at Methodist had students seeing pink, but this time for breast Cancer awareness. The Pink Zone weekend began on Friday with an upbeat pep rally, followed by the Pink Zone basketball game Saturday afternoon.
Methodist has hosted a breast cancer awareness game, also known as Think Pink or Pink Zone, for three years. All proceeds from the game and T-shirt sales were donated to organizations that promote breast cancer awareness, such as the Kay Yow Foundation and the Cape Fear Cancer Center.
On Feb. 12, the Happy Hour pep rally filled the Berns Student Center with students who were ready to cheer on the basketball teams and support a cause. The cheerleaders showed their support by wearing pink hair ribbons, while the dance team changed from their normal uniforms to pink tops; both teams showed their enthusiasm with hot pink pom-poms.
“We’ve been working towards the Pink Zone since the fall,” said Melissa Hay, the head cheerleading coach and director of spirit programs.
Coach DeeDee Jarman, the head women’s basketball coach, informed students about the purpose of the Pink Zone. Coach Jarmon became emotional while explaining the importance of breast cancer awareness, but was supported by the cheers of the women’s basketball team and other students.
Greek Life presented Coach Jarman with a check for $233 to donate to breast cancer awareness programs. Greek Life also participated in a “pink-wear” relay race. For the race, cheerleaders lent pink clothing and accessories for two male participants to be dressed in. Katie Johnson, a representative for Beta Sigma Phi, was paired with Lambda Chi Alpha’s Steven Perry for the relay race, while Deanna Piacente of Alpha Delta Pi participated with Kappa Sigma’s Zebulon Russell. After both males were more so assembled than dressed, they had to run across the floor in their attire to the finish line. Piacente and Russell won the relay race.
On Saturday Feb. 13, school spirit was even higher for the basketball game. Upon entering the Riddle Center, students were surrounded by a sea of pink. There were many booths set up in the lobby; some sold items, such as t-shirts, baked goods, and Mary Kay products, while others gave away free keychains, bandanas, and breast exam pamphlets. There was also a Survivor Sign-in table where breast cancer survivors could check in to receive a gift bag and prepare for the halftime presentation. The silent auction was an enormous fundraising event going on during the game. Items such as gift baskets and autographed sports memorabilia were auctioned off, and proceeds went to breast cancer awareness.
Even the Chik-fil-a cow and King showed their support by wearing pink t-shirts to replace their typical attire. King, the Methodist mascot, was especially excited about Pink Zone. He informed others that he too performs self exams because of the rise in male breast cancer rates, and is willing to help others examine themselves.
“Pink Zone is amazing,” said King. “It is a great cause.”
As students entered the gymnasium, it was apparent that this basketball game would be different from the others. The gym was decorated in pink and white balloons, while all of the seats were filled with students wearing pink to show their support for breast cancer awareness. The women’s basketball team traded in their usual green and white uniforms for bright pink ones and replaced their normal shoelaces with pink laces. The men’s basketball team kept their normal jerseys but accessorized with pink shoe laces, socks, sweat bands, and elbow braces.
During halftime, over 50 students participated in a human pink ribbon. Students held on to a strand of pink lights that were lit after the ribbon was formed. At the same time, breast cancer survivors made their way across the gym for a parade of survivors. Approximately 20 women walked in the parade, signifying their victory against the disease. After the parade, there was a slideshow of students and faculty members who have either battled the disease or have had a family member diagnosed with breast cancer. The slideshow evoked silence from the audience as students realized that breast cancer has hit close to home at MU.
“Everybody is affected in some way by breast cancer,” said Hay. “Students need to be educated because [breast cancer] is affecting more and more people every year.
The women’s basketball team defeated NC Wesleyan 70-43, while the men’s team lost 93-63. Win or lose, players agree that Pink Zone is worthwhile.
“Pink Zone is always a great event because it is for such a great cause,” said Adriana Wilson, a junior guard on the women’s basketball team.
Through all of the Pink Zone fundraising at the game, over $3000 was raised for breast cancer awareness.
Methodist has hosted a breast cancer awareness game, also known as Think Pink or Pink Zone, for three years. All proceeds from the game and T-shirt sales were donated to organizations that promote breast cancer awareness, such as the Kay Yow Foundation and the Cape Fear Cancer Center.
On Feb. 12, the Happy Hour pep rally filled the Berns Student Center with students who were ready to cheer on the basketball teams and support a cause. The cheerleaders showed their support by wearing pink hair ribbons, while the dance team changed from their normal uniforms to pink tops; both teams showed their enthusiasm with hot pink pom-poms.
“We’ve been working towards the Pink Zone since the fall,” said Melissa Hay, the head cheerleading coach and director of spirit programs.
Coach DeeDee Jarman, the head women’s basketball coach, informed students about the purpose of the Pink Zone. Coach Jarmon became emotional while explaining the importance of breast cancer awareness, but was supported by the cheers of the women’s basketball team and other students.
Greek Life presented Coach Jarman with a check for $233 to donate to breast cancer awareness programs. Greek Life also participated in a “pink-wear” relay race. For the race, cheerleaders lent pink clothing and accessories for two male participants to be dressed in. Katie Johnson, a representative for Beta Sigma Phi, was paired with Lambda Chi Alpha’s Steven Perry for the relay race, while Deanna Piacente of Alpha Delta Pi participated with Kappa Sigma’s Zebulon Russell. After both males were more so assembled than dressed, they had to run across the floor in their attire to the finish line. Piacente and Russell won the relay race.
On Saturday Feb. 13, school spirit was even higher for the basketball game. Upon entering the Riddle Center, students were surrounded by a sea of pink. There were many booths set up in the lobby; some sold items, such as t-shirts, baked goods, and Mary Kay products, while others gave away free keychains, bandanas, and breast exam pamphlets. There was also a Survivor Sign-in table where breast cancer survivors could check in to receive a gift bag and prepare for the halftime presentation. The silent auction was an enormous fundraising event going on during the game. Items such as gift baskets and autographed sports memorabilia were auctioned off, and proceeds went to breast cancer awareness.
Even the Chik-fil-a cow and King showed their support by wearing pink t-shirts to replace their typical attire. King, the Methodist mascot, was especially excited about Pink Zone. He informed others that he too performs self exams because of the rise in male breast cancer rates, and is willing to help others examine themselves.
“Pink Zone is amazing,” said King. “It is a great cause.”
As students entered the gymnasium, it was apparent that this basketball game would be different from the others. The gym was decorated in pink and white balloons, while all of the seats were filled with students wearing pink to show their support for breast cancer awareness. The women’s basketball team traded in their usual green and white uniforms for bright pink ones and replaced their normal shoelaces with pink laces. The men’s basketball team kept their normal jerseys but accessorized with pink shoe laces, socks, sweat bands, and elbow braces.
During halftime, over 50 students participated in a human pink ribbon. Students held on to a strand of pink lights that were lit after the ribbon was formed. At the same time, breast cancer survivors made their way across the gym for a parade of survivors. Approximately 20 women walked in the parade, signifying their victory against the disease. After the parade, there was a slideshow of students and faculty members who have either battled the disease or have had a family member diagnosed with breast cancer. The slideshow evoked silence from the audience as students realized that breast cancer has hit close to home at MU.
“Everybody is affected in some way by breast cancer,” said Hay. “Students need to be educated because [breast cancer] is affecting more and more people every year.
The women’s basketball team defeated NC Wesleyan 70-43, while the men’s team lost 93-63. Win or lose, players agree that Pink Zone is worthwhile.
“Pink Zone is always a great event because it is for such a great cause,” said Adriana Wilson, a junior guard on the women’s basketball team.
Through all of the Pink Zone fundraising at the game, over $3000 was raised for breast cancer awareness.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|