NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Women's Basketball is set to host its 15th-annual Play4Kay game Sunday, Feb. 2 at CEFCU Arena against Missouri State, benefiting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the fight against all cancers affecting women.
Illinois State Athletics invites cancer survivors and those who are currently battling cancer to register to receive four free game tickets and access to a pre-game reception at 1 p.m. in the Legends Room at CEFCU Arena. (CLICK TO REGISTER) At halftime, there will be an on-court recognition of all cancer survivors and those currently battling the disease. Any survivor of any type of cancer is invited to participate.
Last season Illinois State earned its third-consecutive Play4Kay national award, as for only the third time in Play4Kay's history, and for the third year in a row, Illinois State won the Division I BCS and Non-BCS national awards. The Redbirds have been named a Play4Kay divisional winner in nine consecutive years.
Illinois State raised $38,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund at its annual Play4Kay game last year. That followed a program-record $66,701 for the Kay Yow Fund in its 2023 edition of the Play4Kay game. The Redbirds have fund-raised close to $340,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the fight against all women's cancers in their 14 years hosting a Play4Kay game.
Play4Kay game efforts were started by the late Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University Head Women's Basketball Coach. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and fought the disease three times until her death in 2009. While courageously battling cancer, Yow started the Kay Yow Cancer Fund which serves to raise money for scientific research and to assist the efforts to fight against women's cancers. The fund has grown nationwide and contributed more than $8 million to support cancer research.
For more information on the fundraising progress or to make your own donation, please visit Illinois State's team fundraising page.
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