'Pink' game honors breast cancer survivors
The local basketball stars of USC's Lady Pacers will take a few moments away from the court to honor the stars of the fight against breast cancer .
The team will hold a special "Pink Zone" basketball game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the USC Aiken Convocation Center. Breast cancer survivors are invited to participate in a special halftime ceremony during the game, and $2 from each ticket sold will go to support the Savannah River Cancer Foundation.
This is the third year the Lady Pacers have held a Pink Zone event, according to SRCF outreach program coordinator Rita Hardin.
"The Lady Pacers do a wonderful job with this," Hardin said. "Many of their families have been affected by cancer, and so it's meaningful to them to give to the community in this way."
Hardin , a 19-year survivor of breast cancer, has participated in the ceremony.
"They do a big ceremony, where the survivors come out on the court and they recognize each of the ladies who are survivors," she said. "It's very emotional; we all give thanks every day that we're alive and made it this far, and it's emotional because of the loss of so many loved ones. The spectators there to watch the game respond very well - many of them have been affected in some way, maybe through a family member or friend, by cancer."
The Savannah River Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit organization that offers assistance to cancer patients in need. This might take the form of assistance with cancer medications, funds for gas to get a patient to cancer treatments or through SRCF's support groups for cancer patients, their caregivers, families and friends.
"One thing about cancer, it doesn't recognize your wallet or your age or anything else," Hardin said.
For more information about the Pink Zone game or to participate in the halftime ceremony, call coach Mike Brandt at 641-3491.
Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.