5-28-08

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – April 12 was more than just a regular season home game for the Lycoming women’s lacrosse team. The Lady Warriors, in honor of a teammate’s mother, paired with Climb for Hope to raise money in support of breast cancer by hosting a “pink out.”

In September, sophomore Alex DeWitt’s mother, Christine, lost her battle with breast cancer.

Head coach Kara Reber and the Lady Warriors rallied around Alex and decided to honor her mother’s memory by hosting a breast cancer awareness event in the form of a lacrosse game.

The team solicited pre-orders for pink Lycoming lacrosse shirts and accepted donations throughout the game. In the true spirit of the “pink out,” the Lady Warriors wore pink jerseys, tied pink ribbons into their hair, used pink pre-wrap and tape for injures and warmed-up in pink "shooting" shirts. They asked everyone in attendance to wear pink so they could have a "pink out" of the stadium.

"It was an absolutely amazing site to see on Saturday,” said Reber. “It was by far the biggest crowd we have ever had and to see everyone come out and support such a worthy cause and wear their pink was exciting. Our original goal was to raise $3,000 for the organization and we were ecstatic when we more than doubled that goal.”

The team raised just over $6,200 through the event.

Climb for Hope was organized to raise and channel funds towards research in the fight against breast cancer. Its mission is to find a viable treatment for breast cancer by 2009. The goal for 2008 is to raise $300,000 that will go directly towards a vaccine being developed at Johns Hopkins University by Dr. Leisha Emens. This research will one day allow patients to successfully battle the disease using a specialized vaccine in conjunction with lower doses of chemotherapy. Not only does the vaccine address some of the most aggressive and lethal forms of Breast Cancer, but the research is expected to derive advances for many forms of cancer as well. Please visit www.climbforhope.com for more information.

Along with raising breast cancer awareness, Lycoming celebrated Senior Day at the game. The game also served as Faculty/Staff Recognition Day, with each current Lycoming player recognizing someone at the College for their positive influence and mentorship.