The Simon Fraser University women's basketball team will host their annual Pink Zone game this Saturday, raising funds for the B.C. Cancer Foundation's breast cancer research.
The Clan encourages everyone to wear pink to the game and for every person who comes to the game, a donor will contribute one dollar to the cause. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will also be donated.
"As a team, we have been doing this fundraiser for a long time," said senior guard Carla Wyman. "Breast cancer impacts so many people's lives and we make it a team goal every year to try and do something to help."
There will also be a silent auction, pink t-shirts for sale and Clan freshman Belce Yoruk is collecting donations for when she shaves her head after the game.
"My sister had cancer when she was 13 and it was very emotional time for me and my family," said Yoruk. "It's one of the worst disease's in the world and to watch my sister have to go through that, to see her lose her hair, especially at such a young age, it was difficult. I was 10 at the time, so I couldn't do a lot to support her, but when I came here and found out people cut their hair to raise money for cancer research, I thought it was something I could do to support her now."
Saturday is also Senior's Night and the last home contest for graduating players Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, Kristina Collins and Wyman.
SFU will face the Northwest Nazarene Crusaders and the game will have post-season implications, heading into this weekend's games. The Clan lead NNU by one game.
Raincock-Ekunwe, Collins and Wyman play their last games in the West Gym, after four years with the Clan that began with a Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championship in the 2009-10 season before the school's transition into the NCAA.
"They came in at a crucial point of the program, when the roster was depleted because of our early move to the NCAA," said head coach Bruce Langford. "They were forced in their second year to become leaders and they have matured into excellent student-athletes. If we could replace them with the caliber of people that they have been, the program will be in good hands."
The three players started together as freshmen, contributing to the Clan's fifth CIS championship in nine years.
Since then, the Clan has led the program's charge into the NCAA, starting with a seven-win season in the program's first year in the NCAA in 2010-11. SFU improved to 17 wins last season and 18 so far this season, while holding down second spot in the West Region of the USA Today Top 25 coaches poll.
Tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased by emailing [email protected] or at the door, an hour prior to game time. Group rates are available.
