BRADFORD, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's athletic department and Alpha Phi Omega chapter will host their second annual "Teal There's a Cure" campaign during Saturday's home basketball doubleheader to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.
The Panther women tipoff against Mt. Aloysius at 1 p.m., and the men's game will follow at approximately 3 p.m.
Members of the basketball teams will be sporting teal shirts during warmups, and Alpha Phi Omega will be collecting donations and selling shirts during the games. A presentation will be held during halftime of the women's game.
In addition, Alpha Phi Omega will host a 3-on-3 basketball tournament Friday night in the KOA Arena at 8 p.m. Registration is $5 per team, and every team is guaranteed at least two games. Prizes will be awarded to the winning team.
All money raised will be donated to the Evans-Krivak Gynecological Cancer Research Foundation, founded by Bradford residents, Dr. George and Susan Evans, who is an ovarian cancer survivor and established the fund in honor of Dr. Thomas Krivak, the doctor who treated her.
The Pitt-Bradford athletic department and Alpha Phi Omega were able to raise more than $1,000 during last year's "Teal There's a Cure" campaign, and Susan Evans is thrilled to be partnering with the university once again.
"The school has been behind this from day one and it's been wonderful," said Susan Evans, who also serves on the Pitt-Bradford Advisory Board. "And the students who do this are so well organized."
Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, and a woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 75. It can be deceptive and difficult to identify, as no test for detection currently exists; Susan Evans was diagnosed from an ER scan that was probing the cause of a swollen ankle.
The Evans-Krivak Gynecological Cancer Research Foundation serves two purposes she said.
"The primary goal in doing this in the last two and half years is get the word out about ovarian cancer," Mrs. Evans said. "The secondary goal is money; research needs to be done and it also funds education."
She has spoken to more than 80 groups in the last two-plus years in an effort to raise awareness for ovarian cancer, and she penned a book, "Don't Write the Obituary Yet," an unfiltered testimonial to her personal journey and the emotional challenges she faced during diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.
More than 1,300 copies have been sold, and all proceeds go toward supporting the Evans-Krivak fund. Copies are available for purchase at the Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. office in Bradford's Union Square or directly from Mrs. Evans. Contact her via email at sevans66@verizon.net for more information.
Mrs. Evans, who is in remission, is retired after teaching English at Bradford Area High School for 32 years. Her husband is a retired journalism professor, who spent 29 years teaching at St. Bonaventure University. They currently reside in Bradford and are avid supporters of Pitt-Bradford athletics.
Visit www.pittsburghfoundation.org for more information on how you can donate to the Evans-Krivak Gynecological Cancer Research Fund.
