Big Pink volleyball tournament held to raise money for Kay Yow Cancer Fund

On Thursday February 11, University Recreation partnered with Big Pink Volleyball to hold a tournament with proceeds going towards the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a breast cancer awareness foundation. Kay Yow was the Women’s Basketball coach at NC State until she was diagnosed with cancer in 1987. Yow passed away in 2009, but her legacy lives on with more than five million dollars raised for women’s cancer research.

The tournament, played with with a 4-foot inflatable pink volleyball, originated at Western Illinois University when students wanted to raise money for breast cancer awareness. Since, more than $200,000 has been fundraised for various foundations by more than 48 different Universities, high schools, and organizations in the U.S. and Canada.

The philanthropic efforts went beyond University Recreation. The NC State Iota Phi Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha held a booth to help collect donations for the Kay Yow foundation. Gena Schout, majoring in aerospace engineering and a member of the sorority said, “Zeta relates to this a lot because of our philanthropic efforts for breast cancer awareness. It’s cool to come out here and fundraise even when it isn’t breast cancer awareness month; our efforts are all year long.”

When the tournament came down to the finale between WeRecU and Lodgers, WeRecU came out on top. However, all teams had a great time and enjoyed supporting the fundraiser.  Rachel Frye, a sophomore majoring in political science came out to support her mother. “I’m out here playing because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I’ve played volleyball my entire life,” Frye said, “so it’s a fun way to raise money and support for the cause.” The generous and charitable attitude of the participants and partner organizations made the event a huge success.