The University of Maine women’s basketball team is sponsoring its fifth consecutive Play4Kay Pink Game, a fundraiser to support the Kay Yow Cancer Fund’s efforts to fund cancer research and support.
UMaine has set a goal of raising $10,000 leading up to the Black Bears’ home game against New Hampshire Feb. 8 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Fans have responded to the effort, helping to raise more than $40,000 during the first four years of the initiative.
“We’ve got a very generous community here,” UMaine head coach Richard Barron said. “Who’s not against cancer? This is a cause we can all get behind.
“We’ve done a great job every year, and it makes a big difference,” he added.
Fans may make donations using the UMaine team page of the Play4Kay website. As of Tuesday afternoon, only $1,350 had been donated.
Gifts made in person at the Cross Insurance Center on Monday will go directly to Caring Connections, a cooperative women’s health program sponsored by the Bangor Y and Eastern Maine Medical Center. Caring Connections provides no-cost health screenings, education and advocacy for breast and cervical health services to women who qualify.
Barron, who in the past has dyed his hair pink and/or had his head shaved after the game to bring awareness to the Play4Kay effort, is taking a different approach this year.
“I think people probably prefer me with hair. I know my wife and my mother do,” said Barron, who has instead personally pledged to match 10 percent of the amount donated by UMaine fans, up to $1,400.
Nationwide, supporters have donated more than $5 million to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, which honors the member of former North Carolina State women’s basketball coach Kay Yow, who died of breast cancer in 2009.
“Breast cancer’s the focus, but it’s trying to find a cure for all women’s cancers, and many of those are also men’s cancers, so they cast a wide net with what they’re doing,” Barron said.