Published: November 10, 2009 12:25 am      

Lady Jaguars to give assist to WBCA

DANVILLE — For the ninth consecutive year, the Danville Area Community College Lady Jaguars basketball team will be making a contribution to a cancer fund and for the second consecutive year, their efforts will benefit the Kay Yow/ Women’s Basketball Coaches Association fund.

Kay Yow was the coach of North Carolina State’s women’s team and passed away in January after her third bout with breast cancer.

The fund is the official charity of the WBCA and is a not for profit charitable organization whose goal is to fight women’s cancers through fund raising and unifying people for a common cause.

DACC coach Lyle Hicks is a member of the WBCA.

“We have had a few players over the years who were breast cancer survivors,” he said. “Being involved with fund raising allows our players to make a difference and to provide for others. We raise funds through our free-throw-a-thon by giving half of what we raise and last year that was 1,300.”

Being involved with the fundraising was a new experience for Jaguars freshmen Nicki Rosenberger and Chelsie Bartlett.

“I haven’t done this type of thing before,” Rosenberger said. “I know people who have breast cancer and I’m glad to be able to help. It feels good to help.”

“It has been a very interesting experience,” Bartlett said. “I would definitely like to be involved again.”

As part of their efforts for the Kay Yow fund, the Jaguars will be involved in the WBCA Pink Zone initiative which is designed to raise cancer awareness on the court and beyond.

The Pink Zone game will be at Mary Miller Gym on Feb. 24 against Parkland.

“Part of our goal with this work is to make the players more aware as individuals,” said Hicks. “They need to know that there is a lot more to the world around them than basketball.”

Hicks himself is also going to make a donation to the local Provena Foundation Cancer fund.

“I am going to donate a dollar for every 3-pointer we make this season,” he said. “I wanted to do something locally as well and anyone interested in this part of the fund raising effort can contact me directly at lhicks@dacc.edu.”

The Lady Jaguars also reach out to the community in several ways.

“We have read at the library, gone to the VA to talk with the veterans, and helped out at Laura Lee and the Boys/Girls Club,” said Hicks. “I think it is important that we do events as a team. In the nine years I’ve been coach, all of the players have been involved and including myself we all get pledges for the fundraising.

“We all hope of course that cancer is something we won’t have to deal with but being involved with the cancer fund allows you to build a connection in case you or someone you know does have to face cancer.”

For more information on the Kay Yow fund and the Pink Zone intiative visit http://www.wbca.org.