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"Attacking the Cure" with BC Volleyball
By: Bakersfield College

Topics: VOLLEYBALL, breast cancer, Bakersfield College, fundraiser
Posted by amberc Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:12:38 PDT
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Location: 1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93305

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In an effort to raise awareness and money for the world’s most common cause of cancer death in women, the Western States Conference 2nd-ranked Bakersfield College volleyball team kicks off its inaugural “Attacking the Cure” campaign tomorrow night as the Renegades prepare to host Los Angeles Pierce College.

The campaign will help to raise money for breast cancer awareness through the Kern County branch of the American Cancer Society.  Donations will be accepted throughout the month of October, which has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with the proceeds of the campaign going directly to the American Cancer Society.
 
Players from both Bakersfield College and LA Pierce College will recognize the event by wearing pink. Bakersfield College will warm up for the game in pink shirts, and then wear pink socks and ribbons during play. LA Pierce players will wear pink ribbons and their coach will wear a pink shirt.  Representatives from the American Cancer Society will be on hand to accept donations, distribute information and communicate about the disease.
 
“The American Cancer Society is extremely grateful to all organizations and members of our community who do additional fundraising for the fight against cancer,” said Cherie Shoemake, Community Services Director of the American Cancer Society Kern County Office. “All monies raised from efforts like the Bakersfield College volleyball team is putting forward have a significant impact on research, and allow us to provide local patient services programs.”
 
The “Attacking the Cure” campaign was started by Bakersfield College head coach Carl Ferreira, who recognized that one in eight of the players on his team would be affected by the disease in their lifetime.
 
“Collegiate women’s volleyball has adopted breast cancer research as their charity of choice this year,” explained Ferreira. “While there are a couple of national programs in place, our student athletes felt it was important to support local women in their fight and we are working directly with the local American Cancer Society.”
 
The team is accepting flat donations or pledges “per kill” – which the team averages 40 of per night. 
 
The Bakersfield College versus Los Angeles Pierce College volleyball game is Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. in the Gil Bishop Athletics Center at Bakersfield College. Entry to the game is free and no donation is necessary.
 
According to the American Cancer Society:
 
  • 1 in 8 women, or 12.6 percent, will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
  • Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.
  • Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.
  • Seventy-seven percent of women with breast cancer are over 50.
  • More than 1.7 million women who have had breast cancer are still alive in the United States.
  • Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54, and the second cause of cancer death in women 55 to 74.
  • Seventy-one percent of black women diagnosed with breast cancer experience a five-year survival rate, while 86 percent of white women experience five-year survival.
  • The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.
  • Risks for breast cancer include a family history, atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last 10 years of oral contraceptives and daily consumption of alcohol.
  • Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
  • Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.
  • More than 80 percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, but benign such as fibrocystic breast disease.
  • Oral contraceptives may cause a slight increase in breast cancer risk; however 10 years after discontinuing use of oral contraceptives the risk is the same as for women who never used the pill.
  • Estrogen replacement therapy for more than five years slightly increases breast cancer risk; however the increased risk appears to disappear five to 10 years after discontinuing the use of estrogen replacement therapy.
  • Breast self-exams should begin by age 20.
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