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Riverbend athletics went pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month Date published: 11/10/2009
BY LAURA L. HUTCHISON
The Riverbend Bears athletic teams went pink in October, raising money for breast cancer. The Spotsylvania school's Touchdown Club, which supports the football team, gave $600 last week to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength. "Our mission is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone," said Elizabeth Flanary, special-events coordinator for the Herndon-based nonprofit. The organization's resources go only toward support of people with breast cancer, not to research. "We are a group that's helping those who have breast cancer now, and can't wait for tomorrow's cure," Flanary said. One of the organization's largest programs is a 24/7 toll-free hot line, the In Your Shoes Breast Cancer Support Center. The hot line is answered by people who've been faced with breast cancer and can offer support based on their personal experiences. Touchdown Club member Barbara Chamberlain-McCormick suggested raising money for breast cancer after attending an event with Redskins owner Dan Snyder's wife, Tanya, who is a breast cancer survivor and national spokeswoman for the NFL's "Crucial Catch" breast cancer awareness campaign. "I think the NFL doing it made it something the boys felt good about doing, too," Chamberlain-McCormick said. The Bears wore small pink-ribbon stickers on the back of their helmets, and the Touchdown Club collected donations and gave away pink-ribbon buttons. Members also decorated the stadium in pink. President Chris Pfohl suggested the Breast Cancer Network of Strength as the beneficiary. The organization had been helpful to his family during his wife's battle with breast cancer. Annette Pfohl is a four-year survivor. "I think at least nine out of 10 people have been affected by breast cancer in one way or another," he said. "The Network of Strength, you get to talk to people who are survivors or in treatment. You're talking to someone who's been where you're going." Club members said the entire school community supported the fundraising drive, with students pulling out spare change and little kids and even fans of opposing teams putting money into the buckets. The girls volleyball team also participated, raising $250 for the breast-cancer-battling Side-Out Foundation. Team member Maggie Gallagher said the team held a Breast Cancer Awareness game against Mountain View, at which half the profits went to the organization. They made pink "We Dig Pink" shirts and wore pink shoelaces. The team participated in honor of a teammate whose mother had breast cancer. "We've already decided we're going to do it again next year," Gallagher said, "and make it bigger--get more donations, wear more pink." The Touchdown Club also will raise money for breast cancer again next year, Pfohl said. "I was surprised when I asked the boys how many of them knew of someone who had breast cancer," he said. "You hate to see that many hands go up." Laura L. Hutchison: 540/374-5485
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 11/10/2009
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