"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Sequoyah’s “Think Pink” Game Rescheduled

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma — Due to the recent ice storm, Sequoyah Schools “Think Pink” basketball game scheduled for January 31 will be rescheduled for Friday, February 13 at 6:30 p.m. Every year, Sequoyah participates in a nation-wide breast cancer awareness event by wearing pink t-shirts and holding events to raise money for a local breast cancer charity. The school also recognizes breast cancer survivors with a reception and honor ceremony.

“Although we had to reschedule, I still expect to have a great turn out,” said Gina Stanley, Sequoyah Schools superintendent. “We already had more than 50 breast cancer survivors confirmed for attendance and had sold several shirts. I don’t think it will hurt our event, maybe it will even help it since it is so close to Valentine’s Day and pink will be the right color for that time of year.”

Last year Sequoyah Schools raised $1,000 that was donated to the breast cancer support group at W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah.

“It’s a great cause and something that we are proud to be a part of”, Stanley said.

The annual “Think Pink” campaign was launched in 2007 by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to utilize women’s sports as an arena to raise breast cancer awareness. College campuses across the nation each chose one home game as their “Think Pink” game to raise money and educate the public on breast cancer. Last year, the WBCA also invited high school girls basketball teams to join in and declare one home game a “Think Pink” game. Sequoyah’s girls basketball team originally chose Saturday, January 31 against Victory Christian as their “Think Pink” game, but due to bad weather, has had to reschedule their “Think Pink” game for Friday, February 13 against Oktaha.

“A lot of people don’t know about breast cancer and what it can do to you, said Lindsey Hammer, Sequoyah Schools basketball player. “As women and as athletes, people watch us and it’s nice that we can use that as a way to help them find out more about it.”

Sequoyah’s involvement in the “Think Pink” campaign was initiated by head girls basketball coach Bill Nobles in 2008, when he received a letter inviting high schools to participate.

“I think that shows a lot of love for women who have breast cancer and a lot of respect for the women who have to face this disease,” Hammer said. “I don’t know if he has ever known anyone with breast cancer, but just the fact that he wanted to get involved says a lot about him.”

Pink Sequoyah Schools t-shirts will be on sale at the game and the Cherokee Nation’s Cancer Program will be on hand to pass out literature on breast cancer and help with “Think Pink” events.

Sequoyah is still searching for breast cancer survivors in the community to be recognized at the event. If you or someone you know is a breast cancer survivor and would like to be recognized at Sequoyah’s “Think Pink” game, contact Tera Shows, by phone: 918-53-5542 or by e-mail: tshows@cherokee.org.

Sequoyah Schools, a boarding school for Native American students, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to care for children who were orphaned by the Civil War. Now known as Sequoyah Schools, it is named for Sequoyah, the scholar who developed the Cherokee syllabary. The school is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 Native American students every year. Sequoyah Schools is located five miles southwest of Tahlequah, Oklahoma For more information call 918-453-5400 or visit the Sequoyah Schools’ online.