On Oct. 6, the Tigers girls’ volleyball teamed up with Wheaton-Warrenville South for the annual Dig Pink game to raise awareness and money for metastatic breast cancer research and treatments.

Hosted during Breast Cancer Awareness month, this year’s event raised $20,000 between shirt sales, raffle baskets, silent auctions and in-person donations. A matching donation from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly brought the total to $40,000. 

“It was a very generous contribution, and meant so much to our, and to Wheaton- Warrenville South’s program.” Senior captain Lauren Jansen said. “We all know someone affected by cancer, so it was a very heartfelt and special donation.”

All proceeds went to the Side-Out foundation, a program that assists women with the costly charges and challenges that come with the hardest stages of breast cancer.

“While not everyone may have a family member, friend or know someone affected by breast cancer, we also use the event to highlight, honor and support anyone affected by any type of cancer,” coach Matthew Slechta said. “The coach of WWS and I feel that if we are going to do an event to support a cause such as this, we are going to do it to the best of our abilities.”

The event allows the players to come together and support those who have suffered. It gives them the opportunity to honor a loved one. 

“The players and coaches get specialized jerseys with a name on the back of who they are playing in honor of during the game,” Slechta said. “For example, players will have names such as Grandma, Aunt Kathleen and Dad on the back of their jerseys.”

The North versus Wheaton-Warrenville South Dig Pink game has been held since 2018 and has raised approximately $65,000. The event allows the two teams, family and community to come together for something bigger than themselves. 

“To describe the feeling of being able to raise money for this great cause is indescribable,”Senior captain Jackie Gladstein said. “We have to remember that this isn’t just a regular game and that we’re playing for the name on the back.”