Thursday night, members of the women's basketball team will play for something bigger than themselves when they host the annual BTHO Breast Cancer game. Tipoff against Vanderbilt is set for 8 p.m.
The Aggies shared how breast cancer has impacted their lives and why this game is such a special event. Jasmine Williams, Senior Guard, lost her mom to the disease when she was going into eighth grade.
"My mom passed away from triple negative DCIS breast cancer so the cause is really near and dear to my heart," Williams said. "I know there is a chance for a cure, so I am just hoping to raise awareness through the game."
Williams described the emotion tied to the game, noting the special ways the team pays tribute to those affected by Breast Cancer.
"We have survivors and those who are battling Breast Cancer come to the game to be recognized and celebrated for their fight," Williams said. "For me, it's also really special because I can pay tribute to my mother and put her name on the back of my jersey."
For assistant coach Bob Starkey the cause behind this game hits close to home as well.
"The game became personal for me when my wife, Sherrie, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the early 2000s," Starkey said.Â
The thing that grabs Starkey most as a women's basketball coach is that 1 in 8 women in their lifetime will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I know that there's a good chance that somebody here is going to have this fight later on in life so the more we can do on the front end the better we can help them when the time comes," Starkey said.
The Starkeys donate $1.50 per student attending the game to both a national foundation— the Kay Yow Cancer Fund— and a local foundation— Pink Alliance. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund's mission is to raise money for scientific research for the development of life-enhancing drugs and clinical studies, assist the underserved, and unify people for a common cause. Pink Alliance's mission is to provide compassion, encouragement and helpful information to the women in our community as they receive diagnoses for breast cancer and then move forward through treatment with hope and anticipation to the time that they, too, will be happy and healthy survivors.
"It's important to make sure we are touching as many people not just vastly but in our community as well," Starkey said.Â
Head Coach Gary Blair noted that every donation counts.
"The best thing about the Breast Cancer game is that anybody can help at whatever level they can," Blair said. "We are able to make a difference, and that is the most important thing."
Fans can buy a pink t-shirt at the game for $10. All money raised will go to Pink Alliance and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
"I'm proud that women's basketball is one of the forerunners bringing awareness to Breast Cancer and that now it has spread to every sport, because cancer affects all of us," Blair said.Â
The Aggies shared how breast cancer has impacted their lives and why this game is such a special event. Jasmine Williams, Senior Guard, lost her mom to the disease when she was going into eighth grade.
"My mom passed away from triple negative DCIS breast cancer so the cause is really near and dear to my heart," Williams said. "I know there is a chance for a cure, so I am just hoping to raise awareness through the game."
Williams described the emotion tied to the game, noting the special ways the team pays tribute to those affected by Breast Cancer.
"We have survivors and those who are battling Breast Cancer come to the game to be recognized and celebrated for their fight," Williams said. "For me, it's also really special because I can pay tribute to my mother and put her name on the back of my jersey."
For assistant coach Bob Starkey the cause behind this game hits close to home as well.
"The game became personal for me when my wife, Sherrie, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the early 2000s," Starkey said.Â
The thing that grabs Starkey most as a women's basketball coach is that 1 in 8 women in their lifetime will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I know that there's a good chance that somebody here is going to have this fight later on in life so the more we can do on the front end the better we can help them when the time comes," Starkey said.
The Starkeys donate $1.50 per student attending the game to both a national foundation— the Kay Yow Cancer Fund— and a local foundation— Pink Alliance. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund's mission is to raise money for scientific research for the development of life-enhancing drugs and clinical studies, assist the underserved, and unify people for a common cause. Pink Alliance's mission is to provide compassion, encouragement and helpful information to the women in our community as they receive diagnoses for breast cancer and then move forward through treatment with hope and anticipation to the time that they, too, will be happy and healthy survivors.
"It's important to make sure we are touching as many people not just vastly but in our community as well," Starkey said.Â
Head Coach Gary Blair noted that every donation counts.
"The best thing about the Breast Cancer game is that anybody can help at whatever level they can," Blair said. "We are able to make a difference, and that is the most important thing."
Fans can buy a pink t-shirt at the game for $10. All money raised will go to Pink Alliance and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
"I'm proud that women's basketball is one of the forerunners bringing awareness to Breast Cancer and that now it has spread to every sport, because cancer affects all of us," Blair said.Â