Feb. 12, 2008
By Anne Yorks
"All I could think was, `I'm going to die," said breast cancer survivor Mary McCahan. "I couldn't hear anything else the doctor said."
It was August 2000 when McCahan, who is a staff assistant in the Lady Lion Basketball office, heard her doctor say those three words that no one wants to hear, "You have cancer." The moments following her diagnosis she felt devastated. She couldn't understand how it was possible. She didn't smoke or drink, she went to church every Sunday, and there was no history of cancer in her family line.
But breast cancer doesn't discriminate. According to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, there are enough Pennsylvanian women of all ages and races living with the disease to fill Beaver Stadium. This year alone, 9,500 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,200 women will die from it.
That is why the Penn State Lady Lions and their fans are teaming up to raise money to help fight breast cancer with the Second Annual THINK PINK Day proudly supported by Mimi Barash Coppersmith.
A flurry of events surrounds this day which is not only about basketball, but also a day about breast cancer education, awareness, support, and fundraising.
"Last year we gave the survivors a good day, but this year we're giving them a great day," said Loren Crispell, director of marketing for Penn State Basketball. Penn State will be rolling out the pink carpet and treating survivors with free game tickets, a gift bag, a special halftime presentation and a reception.
In 2007 the 50-60 survivors in attendance at the game presented an emotional halftime display of a human pink ribbon created on the court. Crispell expects those numbers to increase and hopes to see up to 200 women participating in the day.
"It was an awesome experience," said McCahan as she reflected on last year's THINK PINK Day. She stood on the court with her sister, Vera, while her daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Scott, watched from the stands. "To be standing next to a woman who is a 30-year survivor that gives other women hope."
Some of the players on the team have been personally touched by this disease. Co-captain and senior guard Kam Gissendanner's high school basketball coach, Simone Grady Moore, passed away from breast cancer.
"She really touched my life in a special way," said Gissendanner. "An event like THINK PINK allows us to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and much bigger than the sport of basketball. It is really just a humbling experience."
The team raised more than $20,000 in the inaugural year, and marked Penn State as one of the leaders in raising money and awareness for breast cancer. This year, there are more than 400 Division I, II, and III schools that are sponsoring a THINK PINK Day.
"We need money and research to get where we need to be," said Mimi Barash Coppersmith, main supporter of the event and a breast and thyroid cancer survivor. "This is everybody's job to beat breast cancer."
Through research and better testing, breast cancer can be detected early on. Luckily for McCahan, her doctor required a mammogram every year following her 40th birthday, and as soon as the suspicious area developed, her doctor took notice. Her cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, is described as an early-stage breast cancer.
"At the time, I didn't know a lot about breast cancer," said McCahan, who jumped onto the internet the day after she was diagnosed and found information on the Susan G. Komen and the National Cancer Institute websites.
After a lumpectomy and undergoing 40 days of radiation treatments, she received her `certificate of graduation' from the Mount Nittany Medical Center. Today McCahan is free and clear of cancer for 7 ½ years.
With breast cancer education being one of the themes of THINK PINK Day, visitors to the Bryce Jordan Center will have the opportunity to view a display from the PBCC called "67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania". It will be on display from today until Sunday, Feb. 17. Coppersmith, along with Barbara Palmer, are the two survivors that are featured from Centre County.
"The display sends the message that woman need to take care of themselves," said Coppersmith. "It educates women that there's hope."
Organizers of the event have poured over every detail to spread the hope and to make this year's fundraiser even more successful than last year's. The team pledged to donate $1 from every game ticket sold. But, the expectations are high and the team needs fan support. Fundraising efforts began last fall, giving the Lady Lions a big head start to raise money for the following organizations: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, PA Breast Cancer Coalition, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.
Fans can support THINK PINK Day by purchasing an official Pink Day t-shirt, participating in the Cager Club 3-point pledge challenge, purchasing a Nittany Mall Shoot-n-Shop card, tossing a donation into the THINK PINK Hoop, or buying a Pledge Card of Hope from the American Cancer Society. On game day, former Penn State standout and two-time NFL Pro Bowler Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs will be signing autographs and taking photographs for a $5 donation. All proceeds will go to THINK PINK Day. The Lady Lions will hold a silent auction on the Concourse. Items include Penn State sports memorabilia and professional sports memorabilia. Up for bid are a Valentine's Day dinner in a suite at the Feb. 14 Minnesota game, autographed Joe Paterno football, autographed 1982 national champions mini-helmet and so much more!
Following the game, a live auction will be held where the Lady Lions will auction off their official game-worn THINK PINK Day jerseys.
"It is really an honor to wear these pink uniforms," said junior guard and team co-captain Brianne O'Rourke. "It's really an amazing feeling being a ÂÂpart of something so special and to share it with those who have fought this awful disease. It is very motivating to us as a team and we feel very inspired by those who have fought so hard throughout their lives."