OPSU News

The Oklahoma Panhandle State volleyball team will be a part of the nationwide Dig Pink National Awareness promotion benefitting the fight against breast cancer. The OPSU-Newman match on October 30 will be a part of the program. On October 10, the team posed for a photo with (middle row left to right) Representative Gus Blackwell, President David Bryant, Chancellor Glen Johnson, and Tony Hutchison, the State Regents’ Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Planning and Analysis. — Hector Cobos photo

**For Immediate Release** Dig Pink with OPSU Volleyball By Scott Puryear of OPSU Sports on 10/21/2009 Goodwell, Okla. — The athletic programs at Oklahoma Panhandle State University are made up of many fine young people. This fall, thousands of teams from around the country will be participating in the Dig Pink National Breast Cancer Awareness Rally for volleyball. High school and college teams will be promoting breast health education in their respective communities as well as raising funds to help eradicate breast cancer. The OPSU team will be participating in the event with their match against Newman University on October 30 at 7:00 p.m. and the match is open to the general public at no charge.

Dig Pink attendees will watch the women compete on the court while contributing to breast health awareness by making a statement and wearing something PINK in the stands. As stated, admission will be free, but for those wearing pink there will be opportunities to win prizes. Official Dig Pink event t-shirts/apparel can be purchased on-line using this link for various sites: www.side-out.org/news-events/dig_pink/buy_digpink.php.

Donations can be made prior or during the event. The official OPSU Volleyball Dig Pink Website can be found at: www.side-out.org/application/teams/team_page/2091.

The proceeds from all donations will benefit the Side-Out Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) organization located in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

For more information about the event, please contact OPSU’s head volleyball coach, Mike Stephens at mike.stephens@opsu.edu or 580 349-1320.

The Side-Out Foundation has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for breast cancer research nationally through volleyball tournaments, clinics, and rallies. Funds are currently devoted to targeted therapies and molecular profiling which is where there is a hot bed of research activity. Side-Out also devotes a portion of the funds to local and national "Life with Cancer" support organizations.

The name underscores the purpose of the organization — "Side-Out" in volleyball occurs when one team wins a point while its opponent is serving, thereby regaining serve or control of play. Likewise in the war against breast cancer, the Side-Out Foundation will support health care professionals in their pursuit of practical solutions for women and men with this dreaded disease thus enabling those affected to regain control of their lives and living them to the fullest. (Article written by Scott Puryear with information from the Side Out Foundation and Mike Stephens of OPSU Volleyball)

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