Going pink for a cure

Photo

Neighbors | Pam Jadue.The Poland junior varsity team showed its support for breast cancer awareness during the “Going Pink” girls basketball event at Fitch High School Monday. Pictured in pink are Kylie Janoso, Meredith Testa, Kaitlyn Poland, Christi Bilas, Liz Suess, Kasie Serich and Marissa Trevis.

Photo

Neighbors | Pam Jadue.The Austintown Fitch junior varsity girls went pink for the “Going Pink” event Monday at Fitch High School. Pictured cheering on the varsity Falcons are Rachel Davis, Amber Mems, Courtney Davenport, Briana Edwards, Amanda Vestal and Jessica Scott.

By PAM JADUE

neighbors@vindy.com

The Austintown Lady Falcons and the Poland Lady Bulldogs came together Feb. 8 to raise breast cancer awareness as they faced off in their second match of this basketball season at Austintown Fitch High School.

The first annual “Going Pink” event spearheaded by Austintown Girl’s Varsity Coach Stacie Cepin was a way to raise awareness and donations to help women who have been faced with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Players and spectators wore pink in honor of the event that raised more than $425 for breast cancer awareness. Cepin spoke to the crowd at half time mentioning that this was a cause that she has supported in the past. She held similar “Pink” events while coaching in Indiana and wanted to bring it to Austintown with the hope that it would help to educate young women about the disease. She introduced friends from the community who were survivors. Then, spectators who were touched by breast cancer stood and were recognized by a supportive crowd of basketball fans.

“I had the opportunity to meet former Women’s Basketball Coach Kay Yow of North Carolina State University and knowing about her struggle with the disease was a real inspiration for holding the event,” said Cepin.

Coach Yow lost her lengthy battle with breast cancer last year after her third bout with the disease.

Monetary donations for the cause were accepted at the door with volunteers selling tickets for a basket raffle to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness.

Both teams wore pink warmup jerseys prior to the start of the game. Lady Falcons wore “Basketball for a Cure” shirts and added pink socks to their uniforms.