The Alabama Athletics Department’s sixth-annual Power of Pink program gets underway this week with pink events in soccer, cross country and volleyball.
“One of the great things about college athletics is that the exposure that we enjoy gives us a platform to have the ability to do something of importance for a great cause,” UA Director of Athletics Bill Battle said. “Alabama has been at the forefront of this effort since the beginning, and we are very proud of that. Initiatives such as Power of Pink events help our student-athletes realize their ability to actively contribute something positive to causes that affect us all."
The Crimson Tide’s Power of Pink initiative was implemented in 2004 by former Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson. Since then, the program has grown to include all women’s teams at Alabama.
“I’m thrilled with how the Power of Pink has continued to grow, not only on our campus, but throughout the country,” Patterson said.
The start of this year’s slate of Power of Pink events coincides with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. It is estimated that more than 1.7 million new cases of breast cancer occurred throughout the world in the last year.
“Our team is excited to once again participate in the fight against breast cancer by wearing our pink uniforms Friday night,” UA head soccer coach Todd Bramble said. “Thanks to the initiative of Sarah Patterson, our athletic department has done an amazing job through the years of embracing this initiative. We are honored to play a small part and hope that we can contribute to raising awareness and possibly bringing comfort and strength to those current battling the disease.”
Alabama Athletics hosts Power of Pink events in the fall, winter and spring, with three coming in October alone. The cross country team gets this year’s Power of Pink schedule underway with the Crimson Classic on Friday, October 17 starting at5 p.m. at the Harry Pritchett Running Course. Later that same day, Alabama soccer will take on Arkansas at 7 p.m. at the Alabama Soccer Complex.
“The cause is something that has touched all of us,” UA head track and field/cross country coach Dan Waters said. “It’s a special opportunity for us to contribute to awareness and the fact that the fight continues. This is one of the most important things we do each year and I’m always glad that we are able to do our part.”
On Sunday October 19th at 1 p.m. the volleyball team will compete against Ole Miss at Foster Auditorium.
“Cancer has touched so many lives and has most recently hit home for us this past year,” UA head volleyball coach Ed Allen said. “We are excited to take part in this special event l every year in hopes that we can heighten awareness and generate money for such a worthy cause.”
The fall events are just the start to Alabama’s 2014-15 Power of Pink slate. The winter events include swimming and diving, gymnastics and women’s basketball while the spring events include women’s tennis, track and field, softball, and rowing.
