Head coach Teresa Velasquez is proud to have her volleyball team be a part of Side-Out, a foundation where schools from across the nation help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.

Athletic teams from across the country will partake in Side-Out’s Dig Pink program in order to inform individuals on the importance of breast cancer, how it affects people and to help eliminate it from the world.

“This is the fourth year we have participated (in) this cause,” Velasquez said. “We need to help. We’re all women and you never know what can happen. It can happen to anybody, friends and family.”

The Cerritos College volleyball team hosted its first Dig Pink themed game last Friday at home in its 3-0 victory against Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, while home games this Friday, against El Camino college and next Friday, against Mt. San Antonio college will also be used to help promote the foundation.

Donations can be made at all home games at the front door, in addition to buying pink and black t-shirts from the team at $10 each in order to help support the cause.

“It’s a good cause,” sophomore libero Ashley Castro said. “I like how our whole team is into it. We’re getting pink shoe laces so we can get pink on the court while we’re playing and our fans will have pink shirts as well.”

“We want to show that we care and that we are aware of the problem that is breast cancer,” she added.

The ultimate objective is to raise money by selling merchandise and have all proceeds go to the Side-Out program to help aid breast cancer research.
T
he volleyball team has been a part of the program for the last four years, but this is the second time since 2009 that the team can help promote Side-Out in front of its home fans since the Falcon Gymnasium was under reconstruction during 2009.

“The last time we did this, we made about $500, so now we’re trying to reach the $700 mark,” Velasquez said. “Hopefully now with the gym, we’ll have more people coming in than before and all the fans can wear pink in order to show their support for the foundation.”

Velasquez said that she first learned of the program online. When she learned about the purpose of the foundation and how many people from across the country were a part of it, it gave her the motivation to provide support as well.

“It’s great. I think it’s awesome having the team think about this problem. It’s nice to be a part of it and help. There’s a lot of people who require the best treatment possible. As a woman, you never know if you can have it, so I’m proud to be a part of this. It’s very important,” Velasquez explained.

Freshman setter Crissy Silavong believes that the program is a good way to help individuals with breast cancer and also make a difference in the big scheme of things.

“I think it’s really good for us to be a part of something bigger than just Cerritos College or volleyball. We’re all contributing toward a bigger issue in the world and I think it’s going to be good for us to be a part of it,” Silavong said.

“The main emphasis of this program is awareness and creating awareness around the school. As volleyball players, we are close to other athletes and the rest of the (student) body, so we’re just trying to spread the word out,” she added.