Dig Pink
October 07, 2010 10:42 AM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - It’s that time of year again – time for West Virginia University and the Mountaineer athletic department to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Each October, WVU joins the rest of the world in the fight against breast cancer by holding PINK matches and games to show its support for the cause. This month the WVU homepage is pink in honor of breast cancer awareness as events are held across campus.
This season the Mountaineer volleyball team is once again doing its part and is set to hold their “Dig Pink” match against BIG EAST foe Georgetown at the WVU Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m.
It is a cause that hits close to home for the Mountaineers as junior middle blocker Abby Monson shares this fight with her mother, Linda.
“It means so much to me and my family, and I am so excited for my mom to be here and experience just how supportive everyone here at WVU is,” Monson admitted. “It also means a lot that Jill (coach Jill Kramer) is so supportive and helps with everything.”
This past weekend the Centennial, Colo., native, and Kramer joined Linda from across the country in their own Race for the Cure. Each year, the largest Race for a Cure Event is held near Monson’s hometown in Denver. Three years ago, that race branched off to another smaller race and is now even closer to home for the Monson family.
“The biggest Race for a Cure is in Denver every year and it is huge,” Monson said. “There are tons of people and cars, but it is so much fun. A few years ago, they started a Race for the Cure in my neighborhood. It is through the same event, but it is kind of in honor of my mom. A bunch of her friends set it up and now it is a huge thing. The first two years there were around 250 people, this year there were more than 400 people.”
To honor the event, even though the Mountaineers were on the road, Kramer and Monson got up early before the match against Rutgers to run and join the cause.
"Our ‘Pink’ match on Friday carries a lot of significance for our team, whether it be directly or indirectly,” Kramer said. “Abby Monson has watched her mother, Linda, suffer from breast cancer for quite some time and because Abby fights for her Mom, we do."
"I like to run in the mornings when we travel, and this past weekend Abby came with me on Sunday. We were chatting at the beginning of the run, and she let me know that the Race for the Cure in Denver was at the same time we were running. Since we couldn't be in Denver, we both felt like we were having our own Race for the Cure for her mom and all of the beautiful people out there who are stricken with this disease. I will always remember sharing that moment with Abby, and I'm happy that I could experience running beside her in honor of her mom."
Kramer knows the heartache of watching someone battle with disease as she watced her father battle cancer from a young age.
“I can relate to Abby, because I watched my father suffer from cancer three different times from the time I was five until I was a junior in high school,” Kramer added. “It takes a lot of strength to be selfless while you watch someone you love suffer. Our team is a family and our girls are always there in support of one another when needed.”
That support for one another can be seen on the court this season as the Mountaineers currently boast an overall 12-7, 2-2 BIG EAST record. After five straight weeks of road matches, which provides for lots of team-bonding time, WVU is ready for a weekend at home.
“I can’t believe we are actually at home this weekend, I feel like we have been on the road forever,” Monson ended. “We get to have fans here to watch and I am just excited to be back in the Coliseum.”
WVU is also set to face USF on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m., and Pitt in the volleyball version of the Backyard Brawl on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.
But first, join the Mountaineers on Friday evening as they join a worldwide fight that is important to many as they honor Breast Cancer awareness month against Georgetown at 7 p.m. Be sure to wear your pink!
Each October, WVU joins the rest of the world in the fight against breast cancer by holding PINK matches and games to show its support for the cause. This month the WVU homepage is pink in honor of breast cancer awareness as events are held across campus.
This season the Mountaineer volleyball team is once again doing its part and is set to hold their “Dig Pink” match against BIG EAST foe Georgetown at the WVU Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m.
It is a cause that hits close to home for the Mountaineers as junior middle blocker Abby Monson shares this fight with her mother, Linda.
“It means so much to me and my family, and I am so excited for my mom to be here and experience just how supportive everyone here at WVU is,” Monson admitted. “It also means a lot that Jill (coach Jill Kramer) is so supportive and helps with everything.”
This past weekend the Centennial, Colo., native, and Kramer joined Linda from across the country in their own Race for the Cure. Each year, the largest Race for a Cure Event is held near Monson’s hometown in Denver. Three years ago, that race branched off to another smaller race and is now even closer to home for the Monson family.
“The biggest Race for a Cure is in Denver every year and it is huge,” Monson said. “There are tons of people and cars, but it is so much fun. A few years ago, they started a Race for the Cure in my neighborhood. It is through the same event, but it is kind of in honor of my mom. A bunch of her friends set it up and now it is a huge thing. The first two years there were around 250 people, this year there were more than 400 people.”
To honor the event, even though the Mountaineers were on the road, Kramer and Monson got up early before the match against Rutgers to run and join the cause.
"Our ‘Pink’ match on Friday carries a lot of significance for our team, whether it be directly or indirectly,” Kramer said. “Abby Monson has watched her mother, Linda, suffer from breast cancer for quite some time and because Abby fights for her Mom, we do."
"I like to run in the mornings when we travel, and this past weekend Abby came with me on Sunday. We were chatting at the beginning of the run, and she let me know that the Race for the Cure in Denver was at the same time we were running. Since we couldn't be in Denver, we both felt like we were having our own Race for the Cure for her mom and all of the beautiful people out there who are stricken with this disease. I will always remember sharing that moment with Abby, and I'm happy that I could experience running beside her in honor of her mom."
Kramer knows the heartache of watching someone battle with disease as she watced her father battle cancer from a young age.
“I can relate to Abby, because I watched my father suffer from cancer three different times from the time I was five until I was a junior in high school,” Kramer added. “It takes a lot of strength to be selfless while you watch someone you love suffer. Our team is a family and our girls are always there in support of one another when needed.”
That support for one another can be seen on the court this season as the Mountaineers currently boast an overall 12-7, 2-2 BIG EAST record. After five straight weeks of road matches, which provides for lots of team-bonding time, WVU is ready for a weekend at home.
“I can’t believe we are actually at home this weekend, I feel like we have been on the road forever,” Monson ended. “We get to have fans here to watch and I am just excited to be back in the Coliseum.”
WVU is also set to face USF on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m., and Pitt in the volleyball version of the Backyard Brawl on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.
But first, join the Mountaineers on Friday evening as they join a worldwide fight that is important to many as they honor Breast Cancer awareness month against Georgetown at 7 p.m. Be sure to wear your pink!
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