BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford department of athletics and Alpha Phi Omega chapter will host its third annual "Teal There's a Cure" campaign during the Jan. 27 home basketball doubleheader to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.
The Panther men tipoff against Franciscan at 2 p.m. with the women's game coming after at 4 p.m.
Members of the basketball teams will be sporting teal shirts during warmups and while on the bench.
Students from Alpha Phi Omega will be collecting donations, selling teal t-shirts, cookies and teal ribbons.
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.
"We really couldn't do any of this without the students," Susan Evans said. "This really shows how the Pitt-Bradford students are involved in the community. They do a lot of work that people really don't see."
The t-shirts, which will cost $15 each, sold out quickly last year and there will be a larger inventory on hand this year. The cookies, made by Kathy Moonan, manager of accounts payable, will be on sale for $1 each. Those that purchase teal ribbons are encouraged to write down the name of a loved one who has been affected by cancer and use the ribbon to decorate the tree in the lobby of the KOA Arena.
Over the last two years, the "Teal There's a Cure" campaign has raised over $3,000 for the Evans-Krivak Foundation, which in total has raised over $135,000 through all fundraising efforts.
A presentation will be held in between games with Dr. George and Susan Evans, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Bret Butler and University President Dr. Livingston Alexander.
Dr. Michael Stuckart will also return to his old post as the KOA Arena's public address announcer, reading facts about ovarian cancer during each break in the action.
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.
"This event helps raise money for the foundation, which puts the money toward research and education," Evans said. "The education is the most important part because I'm finding that many women know very little about this disease."
She has spoken to more than 105 groups in the last three-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.
All of the proceeds from the book sales 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. Mail orders are also available.
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 annual Pitt-Bradford donors as members of the Founders Society and also members of Brackenridge Circle and 1787 Society at main campus.
"It's never too early to get educated on this disease," Evans concluded. "So often, young women assume it cannot affect them, and this event is a great way to bring it to the forefront."
Visit www.pittsburghfoundation.org for more information on how you can donate to the Evans-Krivak Gynecological Cancer Research Fund.
