Pink power prevails at Mundelein, VH

It wasn't just basketball that was on the minds of players at Vernon Hills and Mundelein on Saturday.

Girls from both teams were also "thinking pink," as they participated in separate Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser games in which they wore pink uniforms, hair bows, fingernail polish, socks and any other pink accessories they could find.

Vernon Hills hosted Trinity and Mundelein hosted Crystal Lake South and used their games to raise money for various cancer organizations, such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

"Instead of collecting admission, we put a donation box out and we raised $600, which I thought was really good," Vernon Hills coach Paul Brettner said. "To raise money is really nice, but I think that raising awareness is just as important.

"We have girls on the team who have been directly affected by cancer, either with their own parents or grandparents or aunts and uncles. That's not something that typically gets talked about. So when you see someone you know who has been touched and you hear about what they've been through and how they've dealt with it, that raises a lot of awareness and empathy."

Unfortunately, Brettner's players have been too closely touched by cancer. One player's mother died from cancer while two other players watched their loved ones struggle but ultimately beat cancer.

Because all of the cancers involved with family members weren't necessarily breast cancer, the girls elected to add a little something extra to the pink theme of the night.

"All cancers seem to have their own color, so the girls decided that in addition to the pink uniforms they would wear for breast cancer awareness, they would also wear socks of whatever color represented the cancer that most directly affected them and their family," Brettner said. "We had some girls in yellow socks, blue and pink. We had one girl wear black socks, saying it was supposed to represent all the colors, and all the cancers."

The Cougars have participated in a "Pink Out" game the last four years. They've hosted three events and played once in Mundelein's pink-themed game.

The Mustangs host a Breast Cancer Awareness game every other year. Two years ago, they raised around $900 by selling T-shirts, wrist bracelets, hair ribbons and all kinds of other accessories. They also put out a donation box.

"The three refs we had on Saturday wore pink T-shirts during warm-ups and one even brought a pink whistle," Mundelein coach Brian Evans said. "It's been a really good event for us and the girls like the pink uniforms and painting their nails and all that.

"But the real goal is for them to realize that there are definitely things bigger than the game out there, and that there are things bigger than themselves. I think a lot of them leave that game realizing that they've got it pretty good."