Rowdies go pink to challenge cancer

Ari Anchustegui , Staff Writer
January 31, 2012
Filed under Life, Uncategorized

The normally green and gold crowd flushed with pink as boys and girls basketball teams supported breast cancer in the new tradition of Pink Night.

Both the Rowdies and girls basketball teams had plans to participate in a Pink Night. Sophomore varsity basketball player Dakotah Lowber’s mother, Angie Lowber, asked the girls team to advocate breast cancer awareness on her daughter’s birthday (Jan. 6), unaware that the Rowdie forefathers had similar goals.

Rowdie adviser and School Resource Officer Steve Kincheloe thought of it as “one big coincidence” when the basketball teams caught word of the Rowdies making pink shirts.

Boys and girls basketball partnered with the Rowdies and reached an agreement to sell the pink shirts at the boys games (Jan. 5), and the more florescent shirts Angie Lowber designed, at the girls games (Jan. 6).

“The key goal of hosting Pink Nights was to spread awareness of breast cancer,” explained senior Rowdie forefather, Claire Richardson. “We wanted to get the fans involved, go to games, and show that Borah supports it.”

On top of selling t-shirts, girls basketball raffled a Starbucks basket and a blanket, and took donations for MSTI (Mountain States Tumor Institute). MSTI is Idaho’s largest provider of cancer services, and a nationally recognized local leader in cancer research; because it is local, the money stays within the area.

Rowdie forefathers produced 100 pink shirts, and the girls team made around 30. There have yet to be any proceeds from the pink Rowdie shirts, seeing as only 60 have sold so far, a lot less than anticipated. Each shirt cost $7.47, and sell for $8, not including the five free shirts given to each forefather.

“I don’t have any problems [with the lack of pink shirts sold],” said Kincheloe, “because we’ve sold more [gold] shirts this year than ever.”

The surplus pink shirts will be sold Feb. 10 at new student orientation for upcoming sophomores and their families.

The Rowdies also invested in 150 pink hats, but only 25 have sold.

“The good thing is that the school’s going to purchase all of our excess hats and stock them in the display case with the Rowdie gear inside of it,” said Kincheloe.

Both Pink Nights increased Rowdie turnout, as well as the proceeding varsity boys game versus Mountain View. The support doesn’t end there. Meridian encouraged Borah to join in their “Pink Out”, when varsity boys basketball played the team Jan. 20.

“The shirts aren’t all of it,” said Richardson. “The big point is for people to go to the games and support their Lions.”

“It shows that we care about other people and we’re willing to help, no matter what,” added Dakotah Lowber.

The plan is to sponsor a Pink Night every year, and make it a tradition.