'Think Pink:' SFU coaches discuss university's support for breast cancer awareness

Cambria Co., PA (WJAC) — The Saint Francis University women's basketball team is set to host St. Francis Brooklyn Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Fans, along with university students and staff, will trade in their red for pink in support of breast cancer awareness.

It's just one of the many causes championed by the university, but this year's tip off has even greater meaning.

Degol Arena is practically a second home to head coach Keila Whittington, and those who fill it are considered family.

"I could just look in their eyes and know I had their support"

That support came during last year's “Think Pink” game just four days after she had surgery to remove abnormal cells; cells that ultimately tested positive for breast cancer.

"I remember them just staring at me because I’m wearing this brace, I’ve had surgery, so I have stiches and things like that, and they're just looking at me like are you okay? "

Her colleague, Lisa Swope, knows how impactful a survivor's support can be. The former SFU tennis coach faced breast cancer in her 40's with a survivor by her side.

"You got to stand up, keep fighting, work through it with grace and humility and look forward to the other side. I remember being diagnosed and looking at the survivors and thinking they're so lucky and I am. I'm so lucky to be on this side, knock-on wood, I hope I stay here."

And it's not just Coach Whittington who is still undergoing treatment for the disease. The wife of team's assistant coach is currently fighting breast cancer too.

"Having a mother who passed away from it, it's always an emotional day and to know you have someone in your corner saying we've got to stay strong,” said assistant women’s basketball coach Dexter Jenkins.

Dating back to 2011, the “Think Pink” game has raised more than $50,000 through T-shirt sales and the half-time push up showdown.

This year, the proceeds will help local patients at the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center, but the real focus is to bring awareness, honor those lost and celebrate the patients, survivors and caregivers.

These coaches, essentially, are developing a new game plan for their student athletes.

"The big picture is being able to handle adversarial situations, whether it’s a disease like cancer or whatever situation hits them in their life. Where they need to use the skills that they learned in athletics which is the grind, facing the challenges of defeat and overcoming that,” Swope added.

“Please, get the mammogram, do whatever it takes, follow up with the doctor, do what you need to do to save your life,” Coach Whittington says.

And while it's bigger than the battle on the court.

So, does a win make it better?

"Always, a win always makes it better. It's always a good car ride home with the wife or when we get home, hey that was a great win tonight, no pressure there.”

The Red Flash are making a difference that is a slam dunk.

If you can't make it to the game, the university is accepting “Think Pink’ donations all the weekend long.

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