“Kay Yow was an outstanding coach, leader and mentor for young women and all cancer survivors,” said head coach Joan Bonvicini. “Her message was always about finding the positive in everything you do and being determined and resilient when facing a difficult situation. Our team and staff are excited to honor Kay and all cancer survivors at our pink game. Please be generous and give to this cause.”
Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women’s basketball coach, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease. Yow was influential both on the court, with more than 700 career wins, as well as off, as the Kay Yow National Coach of the Year Award is now presented annually to the women’s college basketball coach who shows exemplary personal character in and outside of coaching.
With the creation of the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund in 2007, Yow hoped to raise money to further cutting-edge research, as well as give cancer patients access to experimental drugs and clinical trials. Overall, the fund has raised over $7 million in support of women’s cancer research and allocated $2.5 million with current research projects under review.
As an added incentive, if the team’s fundraising goal of $2,014 is met by the end of the game, head coach Joan Bonvicini has agreed to be pied in the face at center court following the game. With a week and a half until the game, the team has surpassed the halfway mark to this goal. The team’s fundraising efforts also currently ranks fifth among all groups registered on the Play 4Kay website.
To support this great cause, there are a number of ways to get involved as follows:
STUDENTS
- Join the women’s basketball team, Rudy the Redhawk, and the cheer and dance team at Cherry Street Market on Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 12:30-1 pm where they will be meeting fans and collecting donations
- Drop spare change in the pink buckets that the team will be carrying throughout campus all week or that will be placed around the Connolly Center on gameday
- Attend the Redzone pregame rally in the racquetball courts at the Connolly Center from 12-2 pm. Hot dogs, chips, and soda will be available to those who attend.
ALL FANS
- Wear pink!
- Make an online donation at www.play4kay.org/suwbb
- Purchase a ticket to the game on Feb. 1 by calling the Redhawk Ticket Office at (206) 398-GOSU or at the door on gameday. If you wear pink, you can purchase a ticket on game day for a discounted rate.
- At the game, fans can: buy food and drinks at the concession stands (10% of concession proceeds will benefit the cause), donate at a designated table and receive a special pink wristband or ribbon
- If you’re an alumni of the Seattle U College of Nursing, attend the pregame rally sponsored by Seattle U Alumni from 12-2 pm at the Seattle U Alumni Center. For donations of $1 or more, fans will receive a special pink wristband or ribbon.
For questions or more information, contact Ali Steiner at steinera@seattleu.edu.