Sports : Pink Night: Vikettes celebrate tradition that helped unite survivors

CPU player Allison Wooldridge escorted her 6th grade teacher, Dilyn McNeill.

Seniors Maci Griffith and Lyndsey Cornell escort their coach's mom, Cindy Zuspann.

Mrs. Griffith's second graders presented a check and sang 'Grand Ol' Flag.'

VS Band members also wore pink as they played during Friday's game.

La Dorshae Mull goes up for a shot vs. CPU on Friday.

Nearly every month for the past several years, area women who have survived breast cancer have gathered to encourage one another, share their feelings and experiences, and help the newest members adjust to their new reality as cancer patients.

And it all began at a basketball game in 2010.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes hosted Center Point-Urbana in their annual Pink Night game on Friday. Third-ranked CPU won the game, 66-48, as the Stormin' Pointers are now 14-0.

But before the contest began, the competitors stood united to show their support for women who have faced breast cancer.

Several breast cancer survivors were introduced to the audience before the game. Most of them were escorted by VS team members. However, one of them Dilyn McNeill, was accompanied by Stormin' Pointer sophomore Allison Wooldridge, who described McNeill as her favorite 6th grade teacher.

T-shirt sales and other events raised money for the VGH Foundation Gifts of Hope program, which helps pay for women's health services for those who cannot afford them.

Younger students also helped; the second graders of Mrs. Tami Griffith's 2nd-grade class at Tilford held its own fund-raiser, and presented a check for $176.10.

Many in the audience wore pink, as did the Vikettes, who donned pink uniforms in place of the usual black and gold. The basketball used in the tip-off was also pink, and it was sold via silent auction. The VS Voyagers and cheerleaders also added pink to their uniforms.

Also joining local survivors for the on-court introductions was Cindy Zuspann, the mom of Vikette coach Aaron Zuspann. While most of the Vikettes wore their names on the back of their t-shirts, Coach Z wore a shirt that read: "For Mom."

An empty chair with a rose honored local ladies who have died from breast cancer, and Coach Z made special presentation to the family of Shirley Butts, who died in September.

See more photos HERE.