Elkettes’ Volleyball Game Highlights Breast Cancer Awareness
The sports world can sometimes seem to be narrow-minded, concerned primarily with winning and losing. Tomorrow night, when the Elkettes’ volleyball team hosts St. Michael’s at 6:30 p.m. in Ben Lujan Gymnasium, the sports world offers a softer face, a face of care, love and support.
Thanks to the courageous example of Melissa Ainsworth, Pojoaque Valley middle school volleyball coach and wife of Pojoaque High head volleyball coach Brian Ainsworth, cancer awareness is being brought out in the open in Pojoaque Valley.
Melissa, 40, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August, after her first mammogram. She shares her journey in an insightful article by Pancho Morris in today’s Santa Fe New Mexican.
“Thursday night is about community,” Brian Ainsworth said. “Its about how a community can bond together and support one another.”
The Thursday night volleyball game also coincides with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is being recognized throughout the nation.
A raffle will be held at the game with proceeds donated to The University of New Mexico Cancer Center in Albuquerque and to the Breast Care Fund in Espanola.
Fans are asked to wear something pink to symbolize our united fight against cancer.
Since National Breast Cancer Month began in 1985, progress has been made in early cancer detection as mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer rates have declined.
But there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get mammograms at regular intervals.
It’s important to note several facts: 1. Women age 65 and older are less likely to get mammograms than younger women, even though breast cancer risks increases with age. 2. Hispanic women have fewer mammograms than Caucasian and African American women. 3. Women below poverty level are less likely than women at higher incomes to have had a mammogram in the last two years. 4. Mammography use has increased for all groups except American Indians and Alaska natives.
President Barack Obama’s health insurance plan includes a stipulation that insurers would be barred from denying coverage because of a pre-existining cancer and would be required to pay for preventative screenings like mammograms.
Almost every family knows the horror of cancer, lets show our solidarity tomorrow night, lets light up the gym with Pink, the color of awareness, the color of love and hope.
