Jan. 11, 2012
2012 Pink Zone Official Website
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State Lady Lions continue their fight against breast cancer with the Sixth Annual WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State when Minnesota visits the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday, Feb. 26. The Lady Lions and head coach Coquese Washington are proud to announce that this year's Pink Zone at Penn State fundraising efforts will benefit Mount Nittany Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital and Lewistown Hospital.
These organizations represent the fight against breast cancer on local, regional and national levels and will utilize the funds raised to provide education and awareness, prevention, research and treatment in the battle against breast cancer. The organizations provided the Pink Zone at Penn State Board of Directors with proposals on how the funds would be used and the board then made a final decision based on which programs fit best into the Pink Zone at Penn State mission of education, research and treatment.
After fulfilling the pledge for the "Penn State Lady Lion Basketball Cancer Resource Center" at Mount Nittany Medical Center's new cancer center last year, Mount Nittany Medical Center will use this year's funds to purchase a breast specimen imager. This allows surgeons to have mammography equipment onsite in the operating rooms for radiologists to review. This means tissue removed for biopsy will not need to be transported to another area of the hospital but can be evaluated in real time thus giving the findings in a timely manner and decreasing the amount of time the patient has to spend under anesthesia.
Through past Pink Zone at Penn State funds, the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute activated the Lady Lion Basketball Breast Cancer Research Endowment. The monies from this year's Pink Zone at Penn State will continue to grow the endowment level of the Lady Lion Basketball Breast Cancer Research Endowment. Additionally, Pink Zone at Penn State funds will be used to support Dr. Maria Baker's Cancer Genetics Program. Dr. Baker's program provides individuals with information based on their family history and/or genetic testing results to help in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer. Pink Zone at Penn State believes that the support of this program is essential as researchers estimate that 5-10% of breast cancer is inherited.
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund, which is named for former N.C. State women's basketball coach Kay Yow, is a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause. The Kay Yow Fund awards a $50,000 to $100,000 research grant to fund a cancer research project at a Cancer Center in the host city of that year's NCAA Women's Final Four in conjunction with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Convention. Last year's grant recipient was Chunyan He, ScD from the Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center at Indiana University.
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition will continue to use funding from Pink Zone for a special pink wrap on the organization's van that is used to travel the state and spread the message of breast cancer awareness and education.
J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital will use funds raised through Pink Zone at Penn State to purchase a full field digital mammography system with stereotactic breast biopsy capabilities. Digital mammography equipment provides state of the art technology to help identify breast cancer in its earliest stages - sometimes a year or two before it is large enough to be felt.
Lewistown Hospital, the newest Pink Zone beneficiary, will also utilize Pink Zone funding in the area of breast cancer education. The monies received from this year's Pink Zone will allow Lewistown Hospital to sponsor a Spring Wellness Day offering information on breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options. The hospital also plans to facilitate mammography screenings for the medically underserved and individuals at risk for the disease. Additionally, Lewistown Hospital will also provide educational workshops for hospital staff to help them provide the best care to its breast cancer patients.
For more information on the Pink Zone at Penn State, visit the official Pink Zone website at www.gopsusports.com/pinkzone. The WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pinkzoneatpennstate.
The Lady Lions continue their two-game homestand against Michigan on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. It will be Dollar Dog Night at the BJC. Penn State then heads on the road for a pair of games at Nebraska (Jan. 15) and at Illinois (Jan. 19). Lady Lion Basketball season tickets are available by calling 814-867-2557. Season tickets are $117 for adults, $52 for youth and $91 for seniors. Single game tickets go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 11. PNC Flex Books are available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, including one for the Coaches vs. Cancer game and one for the Pink Zone game, that can be redeemed for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets in any combination.
The Lady Lions are on Twitter. Follow sports information contact Kris Petersen (@ladylionsid) and the Lady Lions and coaches (@pennstatewbb) to get the inside scoop. The Lady Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstateladylions.