By Jamie Macpherson

The women’s basketball team had a lot to celebrate at their final conference game last Saturday. Not only did they defeat the St. Catherine Wildcats 67-56, they also helped raise $410 in an effort to increase breast cancer awareness and research. The fundraiser was part of a nationwide event called Pink Zone. Sponsored by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), Pink Zone is an event geared towards “raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.” This is Macalester’s third year participating. It’s an important event for the Student-Athlete Advisory Coalition (SAAC) to put on because of the local connections, says Vice Chair Kira Spencer ’10.

“We started it partly because there have been a lot of people on our campus, and particularly in the athletic department who have been affected by breast cancer,” Spencer said.

The drive to maintain the local connection is evident in the SAAC’s decision to give the money to a local branch of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. A private foundation named after Susan Komen, who died of breast cancer, it was established in 1982 with the mission to “end breast cancer forever.” Best known for their “Race for the Cure,” a 5k run done nationwide, the foundation strives to raise funds for breast cancer research, promote awareness for early detection, and aid families who have been impacted by breast cancer.

“[It’s an important cause] because cancer is something that will affect pretty much everyone at some point in their lives,” Spencer said. “With breast cancer it’s something that can be treated and prevented with awareness, and getting checked and checking yourself.”

The event on Saturday offered various donation opportunities. The SAAC sold Pink Zone T-shirts for $10, and, for $5, students could participate in a quiz offered by the Komen foundation to win a prize. SAAC volunteers also handed out pink ribbons to the fans.

“All of the St. Catherine and Mac fans of all ages were really getting into it,” said event coordinator Amanda Cagan ’10, secretary for the SAAC.

But according to Cagan, the most successful part of the Pink Zone fundraiser was the paper airplane toss. For a dollar, participants could buy a pink piece of paper to fold into a paper airplane. Then, at halftime, all participants were invited to line up on the mezzanine and toss their airplanes, trying to get theirs to go the farthest. Steve Cox ’76, director of the M Club, won the grand prize: a coupon for a free pizza and pitcher for a year at Green Mill restaurant. The four runners up also received prizes from Green Mill and Davanni’s. The event was widely popular, said Cagan. At least $90 of the total money raised was in one dollar bills.

Because Saturday’s game was also Senior Night, the players opted not to warm up in their pink uniforms, wanting instead to show team solidarity. However, Cagan said she didn’t think sharing the event was a problem.

“I think it was nice because it helped draw a lot of [people],” she said. “People were there to support the women’s basketball team, and help support a good cause.