UW-L and UW-Oshkosh to Take Part in "Dig for the Cure" Promotion

For Immediate Release: Friday, Oct. 2, 2009

La Crosse, Wis. – The UW-La Crosse and UW-Oshkosh volleyball teams will be participating in the “Dig for the Cure” promotion during its Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) match Wednesday, Oct. 7 in cooperation with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to support Breast Cancer Awareness. The Eagles and Titans match will start at 7 p.m. in Mitchell Hall.

Each of the nine WIAC teams are involved in at least one “Dig for the Cure” event during the month of October. Student-athletes solicit pledges for their own team’s digs with all of the proceeds being donated to the Madison Area Susan G. Komen Foundation. The average digs for each WIAC team is close to 20 per set. During last year’s promotion, WIAC teams raised $17,347 for the foundation.

During the designated matches, teams will wear pink warm-up shirts featuring the WIAC “Dig for the Cure” logo, pink shoe laces and pink hair ribbons.

Various promotional activities will take place at each match to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Spectators are encouraged to wear pink in support of all those affected by breast cancer. Fans will also have the opportunity to make a contribution at the door through a direct donation or by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes. The traditional post-match serving contest will give all spectators a chance to win a pink “Dig for the Cure” t-shirt.

“Dig for the Cure” was started in 2003 by University of North Carolina-Charlotte volleyball coach Lisa Marston as a way to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, a national organization that raises money for breast cancer research.

Since its inception, “Dig for the Cure” has become a nationwide event, with college conferences throughout the country raising money for their local Susan G. Komen affiliate.