League Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness

In recent years MAAC women's basketball teams have all added a worthwhile and commendable promotion to a selected game annually.

Those are the so-called "Pink Zone" games in which teams often wear pink uniforms and attendees are asked to wear a pink item of clothing. It is all done in recognition of breast cancer awareness. At many of the games there is a pregame ceremony recognizing breast cancer survivors. It is all done, at some schools as part of fund-raising efforts and at other just as reminder to female followers of programs to be examined regularly for breast cancer.

We are reminded of the promotional campaign by the Siena College sports information staff, with details surrounding that school's promotional efforts which appear to be the most-extensive among conference schools.

Included is a Pink Zone special 30-minute television production that will be aired several times over the Times Warner Cable Sports network, Channel 3 in New York's Capital Region beginning on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.

The show, which is presented by Time Warner Cable and Key Bank, will air multiple times leading up to the 11th Annual Siena Basketball Pink Zone Game on Feb. 25, when the Marist women's team comes in for a game.

The show previews the upcoming event as well as the history of the game at Siena. Additionally, host and local TV sports anchor Marisa Jacques interviews Siena head coach Gina Castelli, student-athletes Brittany Wilwohl and Lily Grenci, Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer (CRAAB!) President Joan Sheehan and women’s soccer standout Jenna Placke and her mother Dawn, all of whom have had loved ones affected by Breast Cancer.

John Quigley, Area Vice President of Time Warner Cable in the Capital Region, is grateful the company can bring added attention to breast cancer awareness, to an audience across Albany and its surrounding communities.

"We all have family members and friends who have been impacted by breast cancer. It's an unforgiving disease that needs continued focus, awareness and research to work towards finding better treatments and eventually, a cure that will be a gift for so many," said John Quigley, area vice president of TWC in the Capital Region. "We're thrilled to be able to partner with Siena and bring these special athletes' stories to light."

The half-hour special will air a handful of times leading up to the Pink Zone Game. Scheduled broadcasts of the show are Feb. 17, 6 p.m.; Feb. 18, 4 p.m.; Feb. 19, 6 p.m.; Feb. 21, 9 p.m.; Feb. 22, 9:30 p.m.; Feb. 24, 6 p.m.; and Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m.