"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Sequoyah Announces Date for “Think Pink” Game

Pink t-shirts and pink ribbons are becoming as much of a tradition at Sequoyah as trophies and scholarships. The school will once again participate in a nation-wide breast cancer awareness event by wearing pink shirts and holding events to raise breast cancer awareness in connection with their home basketball game on Saturday, February 6, at 2 p.m. against Riverside at Sequoyah Schools’ The Place Where They Play.

“One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Barbara Neal, health educator for the Cherokee Nation. “It is amazing that the Sequoyah girls’ basketball team and coaches want to make this disease a priority in their season.”

“Last year we raised $1,200 to donate to the breast cancer support group at Hastings Hospital,” said Tera Shows, event coordinator. “We recognized about 25 breast cancer survivors at our recognition ceremony and everyone really had a good time. October is breast cancer awareness month and a great time to announce this year’s game. We want people to get in on their minds and know that breast cancer awareness events continue even after this month is over.”

This will be the third annual “Think Pink” event at Sequoyah. Many of the members of the girls’ basketball team have formed connections with the breast cancer survivors that they have been introduced to through this event, and they have followed each other’s progress throughout the years.

“It’s really cool that we have been with them all this time and we have seen how they are doing and what they are going through,” said Deanna Adair, Sequoyah senior and member of the girls’ basketball team.

“These ladies will come to our games and ask us how we are doing too,” added Nikki Lewis, Sequoyah senior and basketball player.

“The breast cancer survivors who attend the game are overwhelmed with the response they receive from the Sequoyah team, coaches and crowd,” Neal said. “The Lady Indians really do a good job on this event.” “Basketball is a really big sport and people really pay attention to it,” Adair said. “Using basketball is a great way to raise awareness. People will pay attention that way.”

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. Two years ago, the WBCA also invited high school girls’ basketball teams to join in and declare one home game a “Think Pink” game. Sequoyah’s head basketball coach, Bill Nobles, jumped at the chance to participate.

“It’s really cool that he cares about it (breast cancer),” Adair said. “He really gets into it. He wears pink pants and everything.”

Sequoyah Schools’ will sell “Think Pink” t-shirts at the game and all proceeds will be donated directly to a local breast cancer charity. The Sequoyah girls’ basketball team will also lead other fundraising events on campus and will host a breast cancer survivor’s reception and recognition ceremony at the game. Cherokee Nation’s Cancer Program will also be on hand to pass out literature on breast cancer and help with “Think Pink” events.

For more information on the Sequoyah Schools’ girl’s basketball program, contact head coach Bill Nobles, phone: 918-453-5400. For more information on the Sequoyah Schools’ “Think Pink” event, contact event coordinator Tera Shows, phone: 918-453-5542.