UNB Varsity Reds complete successful â??Pinkâ?? week â?? $13,013 raised for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
- It was an extremely busy week in Atlantic University Sport action on the University of New Brunswick campus in Fredericton. Five of the Varsity Reds teams were in action and were successfully able to win eight out of nine games at a crucial time of the season. The V-Reds also worked in conjunction with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for “Think Pink Week”. All of the proceeds from the week’s games were donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. The Varsity Reds were able to raise a grand total of $13,013 for breast cancer research.
On Wednesday night, the Varsity Reds men’s hockey team took to the ice for the first annual “Pink in the Rink” night. Decked out in their new pink uniforms, the V-Reds posted a 3-1 win over the St. Thomas Tommies in what was also the 20th annual Mark Jeffrey Memorial Game.
On Friday night and Saturday afternoon, the action moved down the hill to the Lady Beaverbrook Gym where the women’s and men’s basketball teams were in action for a pair of games against the visiting UPEI Panthers. With the guidance of “Shoot for the Cure” chairperson Jeff Speedy, the V-Reds women were able to win a pair of games to tie with Cape Breton atop the AUS standings. On the men’s side, the V-Reds earned a split and a crucial two points as they continue to battle for their first post-season birth since 2005-2006.
On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, the Varsity Reds men’s and women’s volleyball teams were in action in what was an initiative known as “Dig Pink”. The women were winners over Cape Breton and Saint Francis Xavier to lock up a first round playoff bye while the men’s volleyball team stunned AUS powerhouse Dalhousie by earning a home sweep and locking up home court advantage in their playoff series against the Tigers which begins on Friday, February 18th.
With all of the success on the court and in the rink, this week was about more than the games… much more. “Cancer has affected us all in so many ways”, said UNB Director of Athletics Kevin Dickie. “As members of society the Varsity Reds want to help effect change, and our whole program wants to be engaged in playing a part in raising funds for research. What started as an initiative of CIS women’s basketball has turned into something much bigger on our campus and other campuses across Canada.” “Shoot for the Cure” is a CIS-wide initiative chaired by women’s basketball coach Jeff Speedy.
Not only were all of the UNB teams uniformed in their best pink accessories, there were countless volunteers (including the players on the women’s basketball and volleyball teams) selling 50/50 tickets, raffle prizes, and doing whatever they could to ensure that the fundraiser was a success. Some highlights included donations from the St Thomas Tommies, Park Street School, the men’s volleyball team and Volleyball New Brunswick, testimonials from cancer survivors, and raffling the hockey team’s pink uniforms.
The week culminated with women’s basketball all-star Amanda Sharpe raising $930 and having team mate Emma Russell cut 10 inches off of her hair at centre court between the women’s and men’s volleyball games. Her hair will be donated to Locks for Love, an organization that makes wigs for cancer patients.