GLIAC “Pink Wave” Unites Member Schools to Wipe Out Breast Cancer and Raised over $12,800.00.

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GLIAC “Pink Wave” Unites Member Schools to Wipe Out Breast Cancer and Raised over $12,800.00.

Bay City, Mich. - In a conference wide initiative, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference started their version of the WBCA’s Pink Zone to incorporate all sports.  For the second straight year, GLIAC member schools have raised over $10,000 for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and other local breast cancer organizations during basketball games.  Over the last year GLIAC members have raised more than $25,000 through promotions and have honored over 100 breast cancer survivors at basketball games, volleyball matches, swim meets, football games and softball games and this year alone $12,808 has been raised. 

“We developed the idea because other coaching organizations have Breast Cancer Events and we wanted to include them in our Conference Promotion,” said Penny Cook, Assistant Commissioner.    “The Pink Wave and Wipe Out Breast Cancer as our title and catch phrase goes along with the concept of the Great Lakes,” Cook commented.   The first promotion began with the basketball programs and coincided with the WBCA’s Pink Zone dates.  

The Conference office provides pink shoe laces to all the men’s and women’s basketball participants.  Co-branded t-shirts are designed and provided at cost to all schools for their teams to wear during basketball game warm-up and to sell with proceeds going to the breast cancer organization of their choice.  Many members have teamed up with local hospitals, doctors and local health networks to provide educational materials and give a ways.   At institutions like Saginaw Valley State University, they have made their event one of celebration (http://athletics.svsu.edu/Community/releases/Survivor_Recognition_Event) with half time recognition of 37 breast cancer survivors, gifts and a meal following the game.  Other members, like Michigan Technological University, auctioning off warm-up t-shirts to raise over $1000 for the cause. 

“The success of our events has been due to the overwhelming commitment of our outstanding coaches, administrators and student-athletes.  We look forward to many more success stories from our member schools,” said Dell Robinson, GLIAC Commissioner.  Check out what the GLIAC is doing to promote Breast Cancer awareness and cure at http://www.gliac.org/information/bca/index.