A breast cancer awareness program took on a personal meaning for athletes at Kansas State and Kansas.
It’s the subject for tonight’s “On the Mark”. It turned out to be far more than just a good gesture when the national cancer awareness initiative, “Think Pink”, sponsored by the women’s basketball coaches Association for the Kay Yow/K-B-C-A Cancer fund, was scheduled to be on display in Manhattan on Saturday. The cause took on a face with the heart wrenching death of Clent Stewart’s mother Vanessa to bone cancer.
The K-State guard’s display of strength, his teammate’s support, along with the display of pink T-Shirts worn by six thousand fans sent a clear message of unity that wasn’t lost on anyone in attendance, or watching on television. We take a moment to acknowledge Clent’s loss, and wish he and his family well in healing from their grief.
This Sunday, it will be the K-U women’s basketball program to wear pink jerseys.
They will donate one dollar to the Breast Cancer Center at Lawrence Memorial Hospital for every fan in attendance. It’s staggering to think that last year, over 240 thousand new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed.
It serves as a reminder that of all the things we know, we still don’t know enough.
But, we can feel good that athletic programs at K-State and Kansas are among 600 nationwide who have stepped up to be heroes in a role that extends far beyond the basketball court.
That’s “On the Mark”.