From www.taylor.edu - Taylor University, integrating faith and learning

Teams "Think Pink" for Cancer Awareness

02.20.2008

The uniforms were purple, but the color of the day was decidedly pink during Saturday's women's basketball game between Taylor University and conference rival Goshen College.

The game, part of "Think Pink" Week, was a joint effort between Taylor University and Cancer Services of Grant County and was dedicated to breast cancer awareness. Fans were encouraged to wear pink and donate $2.00 to cancer research for admission. Along with the pink clothing, the game was highlighted by the halftime introduction of four women who have a combined 85 years of breast cancer survivorship.

"Think Pink" was initiated by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) in honor of Kay Yow, the head women's basketball coach of North Carolina State who is battling breast cancer. In 2007, its first year, 120 colleges and universities participated; the movement grew to over 600 in 2008.

Tena Krause, Taylor's head basketball coach, took part in the halftime program, congratulating the women and making presentations before joining her team in the locker room. "I wanted them to know that we felt very privileged to honor them. These are cancer survivors and I appreciate the fact that they would come and show you can fight this disease."

"We want to make this a continual thing; year-after-year," Krause added.

"It was a ‘God thing,'" said Heather White, the outreach coordinator at Cancer Services. White brought literature about breast cancer testing that was distributed to fans at the gym's entryway. "When we heard about it we thought, ‘What a neat outreach for the university' ... It was a partnership that happened at the last second."

"I was very pleased that our women's basketball team participated in the ‘Think Pink' Day and hope they will make this a yearly event with even more participation," said 15-year breast cancer survivor Phyllis Bedi. Bedi, the wife of Taylor provost Steve Bedi, was one of the four women who were honored at the game's halftime and later was photographed with both the Taylor and Goshen teams.

"I was honored to stand with the three other three women to represent 85 years of breast cancer survivorship and to bring hope to women who are facing this disease either personally or with a loved one," she said. "I would love to think that some women committed themselves to receive breast cancer or other cancer screening through our presence there and through the materials made available through the Cancer Services of Grant County."

"What impressed me the most was we had four survivors (who represented) 85 years of survivorship," said White, who contrasted their triumph with her hopes for the college-age athletes on the floor. "To see this young and budding generation, they are the girls who will hopefully be in the generation who will see breast cancer eradicated."

For Bethany Ballard, a sophomore exercise science major from Indianapolis, Ind., the day took on added significance-her grandmother, Hazel Ballard, was one of the honorees.

"Having her there and seeing the other women in the stands was just a little extra motivation to step up our game even more," she said. "We stepped out on that court and fought for a victory. But that was just a game. It was really neat to see all the women who had fought in a battle for their life-and won."

Jim Garringer

 

About Taylor University: Founded in 1846, Taylor University is an interdenominational liberal arts university of evangelical faith located in Upland, Ind. The 2010 U.S. News and World Report survey America's Best Colleges ranked Taylor the number one Baccalaureate College in the Midwest. It marked Taylor's third straight top ranking following ten straight years of being ranked in the region's Top Three.
 
Taylor University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).