WNY goes Pink

Cancer is everyone’s problem.

Everyone’s enemy. That’s why we should all be in the fight.

Playing fields across WNY are seeing it’s normal infusion of “pink” as athletes across the area are coming together to raise funds in support of October being breast cancer awareness month.

The Kenmore West Lady Blue Devils hosted the Kenmore East Lady Bulldogs on Oct.12.

But this time out the Battle of Ken-Ton saw the two rivals on the same side against a common enemy.

Events like Pink Games not only raise awareness they put a face on the disease and make it more personal. More important.

“It’s really important to bring awareness especially in my family because my grandma has breast cancer,” said Kenmore West junior Olivia Foglia-Leffler.

“It means a lot to me to know that there are teams rallying behind the cause.”

Olivia said that her grandmother, Diane Foglia, was diagnosed in November of 2019. Roughly one month after the Blue Devils last Dig Pink event.

Foglia-Leffler said this game has even more significance as it will be a way of supporting her grandma through her fight.

“I didn’t understand the true gravity and pain of the disease until it hit my family,” said Foglia-Leffler. “It definitely means a lot to be able to play (for her).”

West Seneca had perhaps the best example of a community coming together as one as the varsity and JV girls and boys volleyball teams from East and West came together for their Dig Pink Game on Oct.17.

Both the Ken-Ton and West Seneca events featured basket raffles and 50/50 splits.

Though they were unable to do it this season the Tonawanda Lady Warriors have had a long standing tradition of tying the pink game in with honoring survivors in the City of Tonawanda.

Players escort a family member onto the field as the PA announcer reads the survivor’s story of their battle against breast cancer.

Though this game has often been played against bitter rivals like Alden and North Tonawanda, the Lady Warriors always make it a united effort by inviting their opponent to bring survivors to join in the celebration of winning the battle.

Grand Island High School is taking this opportunity to remember and honor one of its favorite daughters.

This month the school will officially name the tennis courts in honor of Julie Roth Neville who lost her battle against breast cancer on Oct.16, 2018. She was just 40 years old.

Roth Neville  (Class of 1996) was a three-sport star at Grand Island High School.  Her body of work includes holding the career record for most wins in tennis, being an All-WNY selection in softball and the first female student-athlete at GIHS to reach 1,000 career points.

Kenmore field hockey held its Pink Game on Oct.13.

The game was especially meaningful for Kenmore senior Julia Cipolla who’s mother Liz Cipolla is a breast cancer survivor.

Ultimately Pink Games are about communities coming together for a greater good. Which is why neighbors should make the effort to attend or donate even if they are directly connected to a school or player involved.

“Right, because it’s bigger than just the two teams that are playing,” said Ken-West coach Brittany Lis.

“It effects everybody in some way, shape or form. So come out and support it.”