After the success of the You Can Play Game for the You Can Play Project last month in support of Emerson’s LGBTQ+ athletes, the college’s women’s volleyball team will continue their tradition of hosting The Dig Pink Game for breast cancer on Oct. 12, another worthy game for charity.

October is breast cancer awareness month, and Dig Pink Games aim to raise money for the Side-Out Foundation, an organization which funds breast cancer research. The foundation was established in 2006 after founder Rick Dunetz lost his mother, Gloria, to stage IV breast cancer. 

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer accounts for 30 percent of all cancers found in women. An estimated 300,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 43,700 women will die from it in 2023. For Side-Out, Dig Pink volleyball games are a way to encourage athletes, coaches, and community members to contribute to impactful developments in breast cancer treatments. 

According to Head Coach Ben Read, Emerson volleyball started participating in Dig Pink Games around 11 years ago. 

“We’ve been doing it because almost everyone has been touched by cancer in some form or another,” said Read. “It’s something we do to raise awareness and help raise a little money towards the Side-Out Foundation.” 

Players agree that the Dig Pink Game is an important tradition. 

“Last year’s Dig Pink Game was exciting and it was nice to bring attention to an important cause,” said sophomore defensive specialist Allie Montenegro. 

The Side-Out Foundation doesn’t just fund breast cancer research, they also do their own. In 2010, they started their research on biopsying and understanding metastatic tumors, cancer cells that break off from an original tumor and spread to other areas of the body. In 2014, Side-Out went into phase two of their research, focusing on stabilizing metastatic tumors. They started their third phase in 2018, identifying the best treatment for a patient. 

Since 2021, Side-Out has used their research to help breast cancer patients and their doctors to help find the best treatment plan. 

Dig Pink Games are not exclusive to Emerson College. Other NCAA, junior college, high school, and youth teams can host games. Side-Out has representatives to help teams set up their own Dig Pink Game anywhere in the country.

At Emerson, the volleyball team sets up informational posters, balloons, streamers, transforming the gym into a pink paradise. Montenegro said the team will wear breast cancer awareness Emerson shirts and pink ribbons in both their hair and shoes.

“We try to do a little bit more than we did each year,” said Read. “The team will hang out in the skybox and make some posters a day or two before; a little bit of a bonding activity.”

Among the posters will also be a QR code for people to donate to the Side-Out Foundation. The team has a goal of donating $500 this year. If people want to attend the game, make sure to deck out in pink attire.

“If you want to scan the code and show support financially, that’s awesome but not everyone can do that,” said Read. “Even five bucks is helpful.”

For those who want to donate to the Side-Out Foundation but cannot make it to the game, donations can be given on Side-Out’s website.