The Blues men’s and women’s basketball teams both took home wins for their respective teams last Friday night against Lewis and Clark, but the night was a huge success for a reason bigger than basketball.

Friday, Feb. 1 was Pink Night at Sherwood Athletic Center, typically a night meant to raise awareness for breast cancer fighters and celebrate survivors. This year, the Blues raised money for the Jan Erickson Lifesaver Fund, a fundraiser that was planned by SAAC to coincide with Pink Night.

The Jan Erickson Lifesaver Fund is through Providence Saint Mary’s. The funds help pay for mammograms and breast cancer patient support here in Walla Walla. It was created to support Jan Erickson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and did not have access to the proper finances to fund her treatment. The Fund has continued on in memory of Erickson with hopes of providing support for others currently battling cancer.

Whitman women’s volleyball coach Matt Helm stressed the importance of Whitman advertising this fundraiser through sports.

“I feel we, as Whitman Athletics, have a responsibility to bring awareness to the Jan Erickson Fund,” Helm explained. “It shows our support for our community and engages our student athletes and community about early breast cancer detection.”

Michelle Ferenz, coach of the 18-5 women’s basketball team and current interim Athletic Director, parallels Coach Helm’s support of the fundraiser.

“We do the Pink Night in women’s basketball to support the WBCA (Women’s Basketball Coaches Association) initiative about breast cancer education and awareness,” Ferenz shared. “Most schools do a night for the Kay Yow foundation but we teamed up with the local Saint Mary’s foundation a few years ago. We hope to take care of those in our own community.”

Coach Helm shared how his program has made similar efforts during their fall season to support the cause. “Whitman volleyball runs a Dig Pink Night where we have had donations given to Providence Saint Mary’s Cancer Center.”

The Blues travel to Tacoma for more basketball this weekend (February 15-16) to take on University of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University and finish off their NWC schedule.