The teal campus of Aliso Niguel High School turned pink last week in hopes of raising money and attention for breast cancer research.
In advance of Thursday’s girl’s volleyball game against San Juan Hills, athletes and their parents wore pink and decorated the entryway to the gym in the annual ‘Dig Pink’ event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The group sold raffle tickets and raised more than $1,000 benefiting the Side-Out Foundation, which funds breast cancer research.
Posters reading “#sideoutfoundation” and “Keep calm and dig pink” were scattered throughout the gym.
Kirsten Battle, a senior varsity player, was the lead volunteer who helped set up the event.
“My favorite part is that the entire school gets involved,” she said.
Battle got involved with the event a few years ago after learning her neighbor had breast cancer. She has led the event for the past two years, but will pass on the reins soon since she’ll be graduating at the end of the year.
She and her teammates helped put up banners and posters in the gymnasium. One of her friends created a Snapchat filter for students who wanted to show their friends they were at the game and supporting the cause.
Athletes on the Aliso Niguel team wore pink jerseys in support of the cause. Their opponents also recognized the occasion and wore pink hair bows and shoelaces.
Katie Kerins worked with Battle and felt attached to the cause, given that members on both sides of her family had once been diagnosed with cancer.
“It’s really important for me to honor them by doing this,” she said.
Campus supervisor Rhonda Walsh also attended the annual ‘Dig Pink’ event.
“I truly like to see the kids in a different setting,” Walsh said, adding the event “gives us goosebumps.”
Though the team did raise funds for breast cancer research, a silent auction will be held on Nov. 9 at El Adobe de Capistrano to raise more funds. The auction coincides with the team’s season banquet.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7844 or snewell@scng.com
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Our team is comprised of Bob and Linda Carey, our advisors and volunteers. Without them, changing lives one smile at a time would never be possible!