Earlier this school year, local student-athletes, coaching staff, and faculty from area high schools rallied for breast cancer patients in our region through special fundraising efforts. First, in September, teams from 11 area schools competed at the 14th Annual Serve for the Cure volleyball tournament held at Charlotte Latin, raising funds to benefit local breast cancer research, including research underway at Carolinas HealthCare System’s Levine Cancer Institute (LCI). Students raised funds through ticket sales and concessions on tournament day. A portion of funds raised during this year’s tournament will benefit the Teresa Flippo-Morton, MD, Surgical Oncology Fund at LCI to honor the memory of the leading cancer surgeon who lost her own battle with cancer earlier this year.
Just weeks later, Charlotte Catholic High School’s girls volleyball team hosted Dig Pink—a volleyball game and charity event raising funds from admissions, concession sales, and bake sales to support the Carolinas Breast Cancer Fund at Levine Cancer Institute. Like Serve for the Cure, charitable proceeds from this event bring hope and healing to breast cancer patients and survivors across the Carolinas. Families of Charlotte Catholic students participated by wearing pink to the tournament to show their support for those who have lost loved-ones to the disease.
Special thanks to students and faculty from schools that participated in Serve for the Cure—Ardrey Kell, Charlotte Christian, Charlotte Latin, Covenant Day, Crest, Cuthbertson, Gaston Day, Providence High School, Providence Day, Southlake Christian, and Weddington—and to event founder, Suzie Pignetti, a breast cancer survivor and former Charlotte Latin volleyball coach. We also thank coaches Tracy Landschoot and Julie South of Charlotte Catholic for their leadership of Dig Pink, as well as parents and students for their generosity.
Photo credit (Dig Pink photographs, above): Tracy Manning.