Oct. 6, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State athletics department will help "Paint the Arena Pink" for Saturday's home volleyball match between the Redbirds and Drake at Redbird Arena. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, fans are encouraged to wear pink, and pick up complimentary pink ribbons, courtesy of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, at each entrance of the arena.
Both Illinois State and Drake will be wearing pink warm-up apparel in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. Admission to the match will be just $1, and $1 hot dogs, pink Dippin' Dots and pink lemonade will be for sale. Along with the complimentary pink ribbons, an information display provided by Susan G. Komen for the Cure will be available near the north entrance of Redbird Arena.
ISU head coach Melissa Myers, who was active in volunteering for, and raising money in support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation in her time as Cal (Pa.) head coach, is honored to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
"Knowing that breast cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer deaths among U.S. women, it's important for us to be able to help raise awareness," said head coach Melissa Myers. "I am, and have been, an advocate of supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I am excited that our administration has designed an event to help assist in the educational process. We hope to have a great crowd on hand, and in pink, for what should be a good match, and a great way to support the breast cancer awareness cause."
Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of death for all women and the leading overall cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 20 and 59. The most common risk factors of breast cancer are sex, age, personal history, family history and breast cancer genes.
Illinois State (9-8, 3-3 MVC) and Drake (8-8, 1-4) are the respective sixth and eighth-ranked teams in the Missouri Valley Conference entering the league's fourth weekend of play. The Redbirds have won 23-consecutive matches over Drake, dating back to the 1996 season.
