GW women's basketball will host its annual Pink Game this Saturday, Feb. 15, as we honor and celebrate those who have and still continue to battle not just breast cancer, but all types of cancer.
This Saturday, GW will don special shooting shirts with the name of a loved one who has been affected by cancer. These are their words about the people who have had a profound impact on their lives.
Maddie Loder
Honoring: mom
"The person on the back of my shirt is my mom! When I was in middle school, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She went through surgery and therapy and never let the effects of what she was going through impact my brother or me. She really taught my family what it means to persevere through adversity, which is something I hold close everyday. She is now cancer-free and I strive to make her proud in my everyday life."
Lexus Levy
Honoring: Mom
"The name on the back of my shirt is mom, who is a survivor of breast cancer! She has been an inspiration and the definition of true mental toughness. She is my hero."
Alexandra Maund
Honoring: Both grandmas
“Both of my grandmothers battled cancer in my lifetime. One had cancer of the spleen and the other, colon cancer. I chose to highlight them on my shirt because they are two women in my life who have shown me what it means to be a strong woman, a caring mother and a loving grandmother. I can only hope that I have inherited their strength and resilience.”
Tori Hyduke
Honoring: grandma
"My Grandma lost her battle to lung cancer. She was impactful in my life because she always tried to be happy and make others smile even through her worst days. She never stopped loving her daughter, my mom, who was with her through it all, if physically present or not. She taught me the kind of relationship to have with my mother and to never forget the joy of life."
Mayowa Taiwo
Honoring: aunt linda
"The person on the back of my shirt is my Aunt Linda. She is battling ovarian cancer, and she has stayed positive and joyful. She is a constant reminder for me to always be an encouragement to the people around me."
Sarah Overcash
Honoring: ms. sonja
"Ms. Sonja is my best friend’s mom and has been one of my biggest supporters. She is truly inspiring and motivates me everyday."
Essence Brown
Honoring: Mamaw
“Mamaw is my Mom's mother. She lost her battle to lung cancer in 2014 when I was 12. She was someone I always looked up to as a kid, and to this day, her courageousness and will to fight throughout her battle with cancer still inspires me to be better in everyday life. I play for her today."
Faith Blethen
Honoring: Nanny
"Nanny is my mom’s mother. She lost her battle to cancer when I was in the first grade, and I know she would have been proud to see me wearing the Buff and Blue today."
Sydney Zambrotta
Honoring: Nana
"The person on the back of my shirt is my nana, my father's mother. She is a wonderful woman, and I don’t know what I would do without her. She has taught me to just be myself and have fun doing it. She is a breast cancer survivor, and she makes me want to be better every day. She is such a strong, outgoing and amazing women and I am so glad she is in my life.
To Nana, Thank you for everything you have done for me and taught me. I love you."
Kayla Mokwuah
honoring: auntie agnes
"My Auntie Agnes was my dad’s older sister. She is the reason I am here today as she brought my dad to America when he was a teenager. She worked hard to raise four children and was extremely faithful. She was a phlebotomist and always worked two jobs and was a caregiver for many years. She instilled hard work in my dad and accepted nothing less. He passed those qualities down to my siblings and me. She lost her battle to breast cancer after getting it for the second time... the first time she said she prayed it away. I strive to make her proud every day and to grow into as strong as a person she was."
Also Honoring:
Ariel stephenson: Grandma Judy (Pictured)
Olivia GUMBS: Aunt lee
Neila Luma: Mariella
Jasmine Whitney: Vanessa
"I’ve known her my whole life. She’s one of the strongest people I know. Knowing that she got through all that, motivates me to be the best I can because you never know what can happen next."