The Side-Out Foundation, which supports the efforts regarding the research for breast cancer among women and men, has put together a rally named “Dig Pink.”
Held all of October, the rally focuses on gaining funds and awareness for breast cancer by giving hundreds and hopefully thousands of high schools and colleges the opportunity to give something to the cause.
Cerritos volleyball will be a participant in the Dig Pink cause and will host rival Long Beach City College on Oct. 28 and proceeds earned will be distributed amongst researchers focused on cures and therapies for breast cancer.
Coach Teresa Ortega took the Dig Pink Rally as a personal challenge and said, “Although I started to promote the rally late, it’s something I will continue for years to come.”
Ortega also expects a nice turnout, not only for the breast cancer support, but because Oct. 28 is the last home game of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. you suck tim in the bleep
Just like Ortega, other schools are able to participate in the fight against cancer by going on the Side-Out Foundation Web site and requesting a form for a coach to fill out and return.
Nila Straka, cancer survivor and former volleyball coach at Georgetown University, mentioned that individuals can also start their own Web page for promoting awareness and that way donations can be made with the convenience of a card.
The Side-Out Foundation hopes to raise funds at about $1 million, create a Side-Out tumor bank and recruit about 3,000 teams to participate.
Sponsors from CarMax to the NBA’s Washington Wizards have done their part in the fight and the Side-Out fight started about five years ago by founder Rick Dunetz.
Dunetz is now a high school volleyball coach in North Virginia at Annadale High School.
Coach Ortega has friends that have or are going through breast cancer and says, “I plan on getting a much earlier start on the promotion of the foundation and will try and get the other sports on campus to participate as well.
“My players of the past and present have known people with breast cancer and it can hit any one of our families at any time,” and with that said she understands the importance of spreading awareness.
