Lincoln-Way East to host Volley For The Cure

The Lincoln-Way East High School volleyball team will trade its blue jerseys in for pink ones on Oct. 7 to promote breast cancer awareness.

The team has agreed to participate in Volley for the Cure, a nationwide effort to honor and celebrate the heroic fight against breast cancer.

"We will be wearing pink jerseys, playing with a pink ball and asking the referees to wear pink official's shirts," said volleyball coach Linda Vivona.

Statistics show that approximately 10,000 women under the age of 40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. While the risk of breast cancer is generally much lower for younger women, there is still a high risk for some women.

To raise awareness, the Illinois High School Association has asked athletic coaches from the 690 IHSA high school girl's volleyball teams to dedicate a match to the men and women who have been touched by breast cancer with the hopes that the devastating disease will one day be cured.

Lincoln-Way East has agreed to participate and will dedicate its Oct. 7 match to those touched by breast cancer. The team will play Joliet West in the main gym at East. The sophomore match will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity match.

Spectators will be invited to sign a pink banner if they are breast cancer survivors or fighters or if they know someone who has lost their life to the disease.

Breast cancer fighters and survivors also will be invited down to the court between matches to receive a flower from players showing their support.

Entry to the game is $2 for adults and $1 for students. Proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer Awareness programs. Fans who wear pink will get in free.

The volleyball team also plans to sell baked items that night and pink shirts, ribbons and pencils with proceeds also going toward Breast Cancer Awareness.

This is the third year Lincoln-Way East's volleyball team has participated in Volley for the Cure.

"October is just around the corner," said Vivona. "Time to think pink."