Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

ST. PAUL (Oct. 14, 2008) – In association with October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) and its eight member-institutions have teamed up with the Side Out Foundation to promote awareness through “Dig Pink” events.

The Side Out Foundation, which is a charitable organization that uses its resources to conduct research, educate and promote awareness for breast cancer, annually organizes a Dig Pink event where they ask high school and collegiate volleyball programs to designate a specific match in October as the "Dig Pink" match.  The primary goal of this event is to boost awareness and promote breast cancer education while also exhibiting institutional willingness to participate in community service activities.

To date, over 750 schools have signed up to host a Dig Pink event, including all eight UMAC institutions.  The conference has designated Saturday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 25 as Dig Pink days, with each institution having an opportunity to host the event.

Some participating schools are donating their ticket proceeds from the Dig Pink game to an organization such as the Side Out Foundation or the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Other teams will be giving out pink clothing, along with pink bracelets or pins to increase awareness while some schools’ Student Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC) are using the event to advise and inform students about the cause.

One out of every eight women in the United States has a risk of developing breast cancer sometime within their lifetime.  Accordingly, at least one player per volleyball roster will battle the disease at some point in her life.

To see how you can be a part of your local UMAC institution’s participation in Dig Pink, access their athletic web site or select the school from this list.

Dig Pink at UMAC Schools:

Saturday, Oct. 18
Bethany Lutheran College
Martin Luther College
College of St. Scholastica
Northland College

Saturday, Oct. 25
Presentation College
University of Minnesota, Morris
Crown College
Northwestern College