The girls volleyball team is working with the Palo Alto High (Paly) girls volleyball team to host a Dig Pink Rally on Thursday, October 4 in support of breast cancer awareness and research. The rally will take place at the game between the two teams at Palo Alto High School. The JV game starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 6:45 p.m.
The aim of the rally is to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and support projects. The teams hope that support from both Los Altos and Paly students will help them raise money for breast cancer.
Varsity co-captain junior Meghan McDermott said that there are a few ways people can help the team support their cause.
“People can donate either by pledging online at our LAHS fundraising page (linked below), or they can donate at the actual event by donating a flat-rate or per-dig,” said Meghan. The team will also be selling “Dig Pink” shirts. Jamba Juice will be selling smoothies at the event, donating 20% of their proceeds to the cause.
Dig Pink is a project of the Side-Out foundation. This foundation was founded in 2004 with the purpose of using the sport of volleyball as a platform to raise awareness of breast cancer. The Los Altos and Paly volleyball teams are part of the 1,500 college, high school and middle school teams across the country that will be participating in Dig Pink during the month of October, which is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“I’m excited to play at the event because hopefully a lot of people will be out supporting us and the cause,” varsity co-captain senior Natalie Dwulet said.
Members of the Los Altos team have been placing bright pink flyers around campus to get the word out about the rally.
“It will be free admission for everyone in order to encourage as many people as possible to attend,” Meghan said. “Everybody is strongly encouraged to wear pink, because our hope is to make it a ‘Pink-Out’ and have the gym filled with a sea of pink.”
The event is taking place at an important game for both LAHS and Paly teams.
“It’s definitely going to be a good game against Paly. It’s also great that we can use this to raise awareness and support for breast cancer,” sophomore Joyce Christiansen-Salameh said.
The JV team will be taking part in the rally as well during its game against Paly.
“The Dig Pink program has always been a pretty widespread event for volleyball in general,” sophomore Samantha Dadok said. “I’m really excited for the rally because it’s a great way for us to both raise money for the fight against breast cancer and to raise awareness.”
Meghan said that the event will be preceded by an opening ceremony honoring members of the community who have been affected by breast cancer.
“I am really excited to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer,” Meghan said. “I think I am most excited, though, about boosting the community through this event by gathering many people around this great cause and also recognizing those who have been affected by breast cancer.
Support the volleyball teams of LAHS and Paly in their mission to raise awareness and research funds for breast cancer by pledging a flat rate or per dig amount: https://www.side-out.org/cb/ous/fundraising_page/56551
