Sports : After five years, VSHS Pink Night tradition continues to honor area survivors

Vikettes Emily H-V and Bethany Miller escort cancer survivor Angie Tharp during Pink Night.

Elly Gloede tries to keep the ball in play during the final moments of the JV victory.

Maci Griffith led VS with 26 points in the win over S. Tama on Pink Night.

Pink Night: Survivors receive applause from the audience during the annual event.

Senior Brea Burroughs gives Coach Aaron Zuspann a pink cream pie in the face.

Pink Night: Vikettes Brea Burroughs & Maci Griffith share a laugh with survivor Nancy Long.

Five years ago, at the first Pink Night, a few dozen breast cancer survivors gathered at Vinton-Shellsburg High School.

Members of the Vikette basketball team escorted them to the court, as the audience applauded their courage.

That first event in the winter of 2010 was the beginning of a new tradition at VSHS, a few new traditions in the Vinton community and led to the forming of a new organization – Benton County Breast Cancer Survivors.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been five years already, said Angie Tharp, one of those survivors who attended the 6th annual Pink Night on Tuesday.

The 2010 Pink Night was the first time that so many of the women who had faced breast cancer had the opportunity to come together. After the game, they decided it would be a good idea to begin an informal support group.

“At our first meeting, it was just five of us, sitting around our kitchen table,” said Tharp.

Now, the group has grown to about 20-25 women who help each other deal with various aspects of the disease, treatment and recovery. They also help at various events, including the annual Party in Pink 5k race, which takes place during the annual Vinton Party in the Park celebration.

And at VSHS, the Pink Night tradition not only continues with the Vikettes basketball team; it has spread to several other athletic teams, as well. The football team has welcomed survivors as honorary captains during its Pink Night games in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Even the boys swim team has joined in, wearing pink caps for a special Pink Night tribute to survivors.

Former Vikette coach Deb Schirm said she was confident in 2010 that the then-new tradition would continue throughout her tenure and beyond. And new coach Mike Healy has continued the tradition. Healy and even the S. Tama coaches wore pink for Tuesday’s game. Healy met with the survivors before the contest.

“It’s something to be proud of,” said Schirm of the tradition.

Pink Night combines basketball, fun and fund-raising. Proceeds from a silent auction and other events go toward the survivors organization and the VGH Gifts of Hope program, which offers free breast care services for women who cannot afford them.

A highlight of Tuesday’s half-time show was presenting the “winner” of the VSHS donation contest with his “prize” – a pink cream pie in the face.
VS assistant coach Aaron Zuspann was the winner, and Vikette senior Brea Burroughs had the honor of pieing coach Z.

The games were a success, as well. The JV team won, 31-28. The varsity team, led by Maci Griffith’s 26 points, built a lead of more than 10 in the third quarter. But with 75 second left, the Trojans had cut the lead to 3. The Vikettes held on, however, for a 63-55 victory. The Vikettes scored 24 points in the third quarter.

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