Shamrocks “Think Pink” to Help Fight Breast Cancer
February 22, 2008

When the Saint Patrick Shamrocks take the floor for warm-ups before their IHSA State Playoff game against Lincoln Park on Wednesday, February 27, the crowd will come to their feet and roar just like they always do, but things in the gym will look just a little different. In addition to the traditional Shamrock colors of green and gold, there will be another color prominently on display – pink. Shamrock Head Coach Mike Bailey will be wearing a pink shirt, and pink t-shirts will be scattered all over the gym: the players will wear them during warm-ups; the band will have them on while they play, and even the students in the Stud. Section will be wearing them, all in an effort to raise breast cancer awareness.

The Saint Patrick Staff purchased and donated the t-shirts, which are being sold to students for $10. All proceeds are being donated to the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. Coach Bailey and his family are also donating $1 for every t-shirt shirt sold. Saint Patrick has also invited several breast cancer survivors to attend the game free of charge to celebrate their victory over breast cancer.

Saint Patrick is Chicago’s oldest all-male Catholic high school, but the Shamrocks understand the importance of increasing awareness of a disease that is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States, taking the lives of over 40,000 women per year. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 182,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization is a Chicago-based national nonprofit organization with the mission to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone. Y-ME does not raise money for research. They are there today for those who can’t wait for tomorrow’s cure. For more information, visit www.y-me.org.