Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Volleyball, Field Hockey to Host Breast Cancer Awareness Days this Weekend
10/6/2010 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 6, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. – When the Bucknell volleyball and field hockey teams take to the playing field this weekend, the Bison will also be doing their part in the fight against breast cancer. The volleyball squad will open the weekend's festivities with a showdown against Colgate at 7 p.m. on Friday in Davis Gym, with field hockey hosting Columbia at Graham Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, both squads will be accepting donations benefitting the Side-Out and Susan G. Komen foundations. Fans are also encouraged to wear pink as they cheer on the Bison in support of breast cancer education and research.
Friday's Bucknell-Colgate volleyball match will include contests and giveaways as the Bison work to improve awareness of the disease.
"The Dig Pink initiative is an awesome event for a very worthwhile cause. We are proud to join volleyball programs across the country in support of breast cancer awareness," said volleyball head coach Cindy Opalski.
Opalski and assistant coach Anna Allison are also challenging the Bucknell and Lewisburg communities to contribute to the cause. Each coach will donate $50 to the Side-Out Foundation and is encouraging friends and families to match their donations.
As part of the Play for the Cure initiative, field hockey will also be accepting donations in exchange for pink ribbons to show support in the fight against breast cancer when the Bison face the Lions on Sunday afternoon. Contributions of any amount will be forwarded to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
“I am so thankful that we once again have an opportunity to host a Play for the Cure event here at Bucknell,” said field hockey assistant coach Jamie Whitten. “Breast cancer is a disease that will affect all of us in our lifetime and we hope to raise awareness of its impact within the field hockey community and beyond.”
Bucknell enters the Colgate match with a record of 5-11 overall and 3-1 in the Patriot League. Most recently, junior outside hitter Katie Baumgarten (South Pasadena, Calif./South Pasadena) was named the Susquehanna Valley Limousine Athlete of the Week after leading the Bison to a pair of 3-0 wins over Lafayette and Lehigh.
Bucknell field hockey begins the weekend at 5-6 overall and 1-0 in the Patriot League. The Bison earned a pair of shutout victories last weekend over Holy Cross and Harvard behind the standout play of junior goalkeeper Sarah Zargarpour (North Vancouver, Canada/Handsworth Secondary).
The Side-Out Foundation is a support and advocacy organization dedicated to making a significant and identifiable difference in the lives of breast cancer patients and their families by supporting clinical trials, increasing compassionate support services and educating communities. Dig Pink, the foundation's national breast cancer awareness initiative, is held annually at universities throughout the United States during the month of October. This season, the Side-Out Foundation has set a monetary goal of $1.5 million as well as a participation goal of 500 collegiate and 1,000 scholastic programs. Visit side-out.org for more information.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the global leader of the breast cancer movement. Founded in 1982, it the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, working to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Visit www.komen.org for more information.
