CRESTON, IA—The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) women’s basketball team is joining in the fight against breast cancer on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at 5:30 p.m., in the Student Center gymnasium. The Spartans will host Southeastern Community College in a 2012 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone® event. The team will be raising funds for the Greater Regional Cancer Center, in partnership with Mercy Medical Center, through the 2012 Pink Zone® initiative.
Sponsors for the SWCC Pink Zone® event include Curves, First National Bank, Great Western Bank, Greater Regional Cancer Center in partnership with Mercy Medical Center, Iowa State Savings Bank, State Savings Bank, and Wal-Mart. Three’s Company of Creston will be donating pink headbands for the event.
This is not the first time SWCC women’s basketball has stepped up in the fight against cancer. In 2009 and 2010, SWCC held Pink Zone® events. In 2009, SWCC raised $3,500, which was the highest amount raised by a school in the junior/community college category. There were 81 junior/community colleges participating. Because Southwestern had the highest community college donation, in 2010 RUSSELL Athletics donated pink uniforms to SWCC’s basketball program. The Spartans will wear these donated uniforms during this year’s Pink Zone® event.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Greater Regional Cancer Center in partnership with Mercy Medical Center. Pink smoothies will be available for purchase at the game. A raffle drawing will take place the evening of the game for one Curves (Creston) month-long membership, one Curves (Creston) month-long tanning package, autographed Pink Zone® game ball featuring autographs from all game participants, a raffle basket from Greater Regional Medical Center, and a raffle basket from the Creston Wal-Mart. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the SWCC business office (Administration Center) or at the game. Cost is $1 per ticket.
To get involved with or make a donation to this year’s SWCC Pink Zone® event, please contact Brett Gilcrist, SWCC head basketball coach, at
The WBCA Pink Zone® initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.
Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer among women in the U.S. accounting for nearly one out of every three cancers diagnosed.
PHOTO CUTLINE: The SWCC Spartans will be wearing pink basketball uniforms, donated by RUSSELL Athletics, during their 2012 Pink Zone® event on February 29, 2012. The uniforms were a gift to the Spartans in appreciation of their donations through past Pink Zone® initiatives.