Athletics partners with CAC to promote 'Think Pink' initiative, department to also celebrate NGWSD at Wellesley basketball game

February 7, 2008

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College Department of Athletics is partnering with the institution's chapter of Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer through the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) "Think Pink" initiative, which will take place on Wednesday, February 13, when the women's basketball team hosts Wellesley College at 7:00 p.m. That night Wheaton also plans to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD).

CAC, which aims to spread cancer awareness and education on college campuses, will have promotional materials and informational forms on breast cancer before the game. There are also plans for a free throw pledge, where people can contribute an amount for each free throw Wheaton and/or Wellesley makes during the game. Proceeds will go to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, which was established under The V Foundation in December 2007. It honors the current North Carolina State University women's coach, who worked alongside then men's coach Jim Valvano before he succumbed to cancer in 1993. Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987.

Wheaton and Wellesley players will be donning pink shoelaces during their game next week, and fans are encouraged to wear pink and donate to research initiatives. The Wheaton coaching staff and assistant athletic trainer plan on wearing pink T-shirts. The WBCA has received a commitment from more than 800 institutions to participate in the organization's program. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of death for all women and the leading overall cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 20 and 59.

The NCAA has also joined the WBCA's "Think Pink" initiative by implementing the "Calling for a Cure" campaign, in which all NCAA women's basketball officials will be blowing a pink whistle in games from February 8-17, the period set aside for this year's program. Additionally, officials are encouraged to donate to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

In addition to Wednesday's "Think Pink" program, Wheaton will recognize its senior female student-athletes at halftime in honor of NGWSD, which is celebrating its 22nd year with the theme of "All In!" Sue Alexander, Wheaton's Dean of Students, and Gina Loudenburg, who serves as the department's senior woman administrator and head softball coach, will preside over the ceremony, which will include an introduction, history of NGWSD and presentation of flowers.

NGWSD is celebrated in all 50 states with community-based events, award ceremonies and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports. When Title IX was enacted in 1972, one in 27 high school girls participated in athletics. One in three girls participates in high school athletics today. There has been an explosion in the number of athletic opportunities open to girls and women of all ages and ability levels.

NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. Hyman died of Marfan's Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.

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