FRANKFORT, Ky. – Next week Kentucky State University's Exum Center will be the venue for a basketball doubleheader aimed at raising cancer awareness.

On Thursday, February 17, 2011, KSU hosts Stillman College in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers games. KSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will sponsor both games and will sell Pink Zone t-shirts and candy. The goal is to raise a minimum of $500 for cancer research.

“We are very excited to be a part of the 2011 Pink Zone and Coaches vs. Cancer events,” said KSU Director of Athletics, Dr. Denisha L. Hendricks. “It is our social responsibility to provide the community with health-conscious messages, and our participation in these events enables us to do this.”

The WBCA Pink Zone® initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The WBCA began the WBCA Pink Zone®, formerly known as "Think Pink", in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities. Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, served as the catalyst for the initiative after her third reoccurrence of breast cancer in 2006.

“I had great-aunt pass away due to breast cancer and another who, after having double-mastectomy in her early 30s, beat her battle with the disease,” said Hendricks.

In 2010, over 1,800 participants came together to surpass $1,045,000 in donations and reached more than 922,000 fans across the nation. Over 22 schools broke attendance records through their participation. Overall, the WBCA Pink Zone has raised nearly $3.3 Million, has reached almost 2.7 Million fans, and has unified over 4,700 schools in only four years. The WBCA's charity of choice is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with the WBCA and The V Foundation.

The Coaches vs. Cancer event will be held in conjunction with KSU's Pink Zone game. The Coaches vs. Cancer program strives to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living among students, faculty, school staff, fans, and the community at large, through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. Since its inception in 1993, high school and college coaches across the country have raised nearly $45 million through the Coaches vs. Cancer program to help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit the community and provide free programs that improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

“My grandfather was diagnosed with prostate cancer when I was young,” said KSU Sports Information Director, Danielle Wright. “When he was diagnosed I realized firsthand that cancer has no nametag, and sometimes, no warning signs. My grandfather is now cancer free after surgery and treatment, but many other men are not as fortunate due to a lack of awareness, not being screened and socioeconomic difficulties.”

For KSU, this year's battle against cancer began in the fall as the Thorobrettes basketball team raised money for breast cancer research and participated in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk in Lexington, Ky., held near Commonwealth Stadium on October 16, 2010.

“We want to focus on celebrating those who have fought and those who are still fighting this deadly disease,” Hendricks affirmed. “This is more than a basketball game; this is a means of making a difference in and contributing to the betterment of our loved ones' health.”

KSU Athletics' battle against cancer begins at 5:30 p.m. at the women's basketball game and continues at 7:30 p.m. with the men's game. There will be a table set up to make donations and all proceeds will go to cancer research. You can learn more about the WBCA Pink Zone and Kay Yow Cancer Fund by visiting www.wbca.org/2011pinkzone or www.kayyow.com. To obtain more information about the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer visit www.cancer.org/coaches.

For more information about the game or KSU Athletics, visit www.ksuthorobreds.com, or contact the Department of Athletics at 502-597-6011.

- KSU -