By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information
For a ninth straight year, Trinity Valley Community College is teaming up with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
TVCC is participating in the WBCA’s Play 4Kay initiative, which began as “Think Pink” in 2007. TVCC has designated the Wednesday, Feb. 17, game against Angelina College at Cardinal Gym as its Play 4Kay event. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
The initiative is named in memory of former North Carolina State head women’s basketball coach Kay Yow, who died after a third recurrence of breast cancer in January 2009. The movement continues to grow and change lives, especially during February.
Yow recorded 737 victories during her coaching career while also guiding the United States Women’s Basketball team to the gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. In June 2002, Yow’s accomplishments earned her induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In July of 2007, Yow was presented with the inaugural Jimmy V. ESPY Award for Perseverance.
To date, the fund has raised more than $7 million in support of women’s cancer research. Due its unique partnership with The V Foundation, the fund utilizes Scientific Advisory Board to ensure your donations support the cancer research projects with the most potential. Thus, grant recipients funded by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund have remarkable standing within the scientific community.
Yow felt as if coaches not only shared a profession, but a community. It is with this communal mentality that Yow, despite her humility, served as a platform to rally a nation of coaches to be a part of one team against one opponent – cancer. Her battle against breast cancer was fought in the public arena with the hope of inspiring others to be a part of a greater cause. Yow’s vision for the Fund encompasses not only her wish to fund cancer research but also her desire for coaches to enrich their lives by serving others.
Last year, thanks to the help and support of its fans, TVCC sent $10,200 to the Kay Yow Fund, according to TVCC President Dr. Glendon Forgey. He said the college’s goal this year is $10,500.
As a result of last year’s record-setting total, TVCC was named the divisional winner among community colleges and received an award at the NCAA Women’s Final Four.
There will be several opportunities to contribute at the Play 4Kay game. T-shirts will be available for $15 (two for $25) and there will be an auction for the following items:
- One pink basketball signed by coaches and Lady Cards
- One TVCC authentic pink jersey signed by coaches and Lady Cards
- Pink Awareness ribbon cupcake holder filled with cupcakes by TVCC’s own Diane Milner
- Pink Awareness cookie tray – McAlister’s Deli
- Pink Awareness cookie tray – McAlister’s Deli
- Mosaic Cardinal head – made by TVCC’s own Sheila Goldman
- Pink crush basket – Judith McGilvray
- Photo op session with Lady Cards – framed signed picture will be provided after session – there is already have a $ 200 opening bid for this special session
- Photo op session with the Cardinal basketball team – framed signed picture will be provided after session
- One of a kind – signed Lady Card and Cardinal poster with current NJCAA rankings of No – first in history of TVCC
- Dallas Cowboy helmet – glass display with turf from stadium signed by
- Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith
- Signed basketball by current University of Texas Lady Longhorn basketball team
- Art pieces
- Signed athletic memorabilia
For more information on the silent auction please contact Lucy Strom-Miller at 903-675-6359 or McGilvray at 903-675-6240.
Donations will also be accepted.
All fans wearing an event t-shirt to the game will be admitted free and all cancer survivors will be recognized at halftime.
Fans will also be able to make any size donation (minimum $1) for a pink link (LINKS 4PINK) in memory of someone who has lost their fight against cancer, in support of a cancer survivor, in support of caregivers, Lady Cards, Cardinals, coaches, band, cheerleaders, Cardettes or any organization you would like to recognize at TVCC.
The college’s goal is to blanket the gym with hundreds of these LINKS 4PINK.
Fans will receive LINKS 4PINK rally towels provided by Kevin Lilly’s McDonald’s.
TVCC cheerleaders will throw out LINKS 4PINK fan balls provided by Athens Screen Printing.
Lady Cardinal basketball players and Cardinal cheerleaders will participate by wearing event t-shirts. The Lady Cardinals will wear event t-shirts during warm-ups and the cheerleaders will wear event t-shirts throughout the game.
For fans unable to attend the game, it will be webcast at www.tvcc.edu.