Local college crusaders support breast cancer care and research

Posted: March 2014

Whether they skated, dribbled, volleyed, passed or lifted, student athletes at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester found innumerable ways during the 2012-2013 academic year to support the UMass Memorial Comprehensive Breast Center. Through a variety of fundraising efforts, Holy Cross Crusaders raised more than $20,000 for Pink Revolution, a local organization affiliated with the Breast Center whose mission is to support early detection and prevention strategies, fund clinical research advancements and promote survivorship programs in Central Massachusetts for those affected by breast cancer.

Various pink-themed fundraisers were held throughout the year, including “Pink the Rink,” where members of the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams donned special edition pink jerseys donated by Bay State Savings Bank that were auctioned off throughout the games. Special edition T-shirts were also sold. Members of the women’s basketball team participated in a similar event—the annual “Think Pink Day”—and the Crusaders volleyball team sold T-shirts and bracelets during their games.

The hockey teams also participated in “Powerplay Points for Pink,” which raised money through sponsorships and donations pledged for each goal scored during a home game that season. And the school’s fifth annual Benching for Breast Cancer fundraising event attracted its highest number of participants yet—more than 500 students worked in teams of four to solicit donation pledges based on how much weight they thought they could lift, and competed in the event wearing creative costumes.

“Every year, our students jump at the chance to participate in these efforts, and they are always so proud of the support they can provide individually and collectively,” said Ann Zelesky, associate athletic director at Holy Cross.

Story published in the 2013 Annual Report of Donors (pdf).