Bartlett to host breast cancer event
While Wednesday is a day many schools statewide will use to shoot Free Throws for Heroes, a charity function designed to assist Illinois military families, the Bartlett girls basketball program has chosen breast cancer research as its charitable function for this season.
When the Hawks host currently unbeaten Geneva at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 the green and blue colors of the competing schools will give way to pink, as the night will be dedicated to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, a 501c (3) charitable organization that is committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the undeserved and unifying people for a common cause. The Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund is in partnership with the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The V Foundation was formed in honor of former North Carolina State men's basketball coach Jimmy Valvano. Kay Yow is the head women's basketball coach at NC State. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and just announced earlier this month she is stepping aside for the remainder of the season due to fatigue.
"The disease has touched us all," said Bartlett coach Denise Sarna. "I have many friends and family fighting this disease and have lost a cousin much younger than myself due to breast cancer. When you see the battle directly and the fight individuals and their families go through, you want to try and help in some way. Tracie (her cousin) has been inspirational to me and I hope that our event can help to raise money to find a cure. She left us at a much too early age and she will always be remembered."
On Feb. 7, the Bartlett program will be selling T-shirts and pink scarfs donated by Cotton Ford, both teams will be wearing pink shooting shirts, and there will be other opportunities to make donations to the Kay Yow/WBCA fund. Sarna is asking fans attending the game to wear pink.
"Our goal is to pack the gym in pink to show our unity in fighting this disease," she said.
For more information on the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, log on to www.wbca.org/kayyowwbcacancerfund.asp.
To donate to Bartlett's night, contact Sarna at (630) 372-4700.