BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College Women's Basketball team recently hosted its annual Play 4Kay Day. In order to top last year's fundraising total of $12,025, the Greyhounds participated and organized a week's worth of events to raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.  With the help of so many individuals and groups, the team has shattered last year's mark and raised $16,210.  The players and coaches dedicated countless hours to support this cause but they could not have done it alone.

To start the week, Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk, Assistant Coach Sara Steinman, and several players traveled to Springfield, N.J. for their 2nd annual Pink Zone basketball clinic. The Springfield Basketball Association, directed by Lawrence Dvorchik and Glenn Wohl, along with the Springfield Pink Zone committee and Jonathan Dayton High School basketball teams, partnered with the Moravian Women's Basketball team to host a clinic for youth players.  Over 120 participants and 30 volunteers came together for this clinic and $3,000 was raised to be donated to breast cancer research.

The team also hosted their 2nd annual Pink Zone clinic at Moravian on Wednesday February 6th.  Johnston Hall was glowing in pink with over 60 youth basketball players in attendance. 

Throughout the week, several events took place on campus at Moravian to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.  With the help of Human Resources Director Jon Conrad, the college organized a "pink office week".  For $5 per day, staff members were encouraged to wear pink shirts and jeans all week.  The campus radiated all week as departments took advantage of the opportunity to show their support for breast cancer research and the women's basketball team.  Also, the "pie in the face" penny wars saw its most fierce competition in a few years as professors were the targets this year.  Dr. Stacey Zaremba (psychology professor), Dr. Nathan Shank (math professor), and Dr. Katie Desiderio (management professor) raised the most money and were chosen as the lucky "winners" to receive a pie in the face at halftime of the Play 4Kay game.

On Tuesday February 5th, Wanda O'Brien, owner of She Salon and Day Spa, hosted the team on Tuesday night for manicures and pink nail painting.  Also, an intramural 3v3 basketball for breast cancer tournament was held to raise money.  Seven teams participated in the event and team Beat Cancer was crowned the champions.  On Thursday February 7th, alumni and huge Greyhound supporter, Joe Hoffmeier, helped organize a guest bartending event for the coaching staff at Apollo Grill.  Although Coach Spirk was a natural while shaking up martinis, she should stick to the sidelines.  Through raffles and tips, over $800 was raised for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. 

The Play 4Kay Day was another success.  The day started with the alumni game and although the rims got a work out, a lot of memories were created and laughs were shared.  The Greyhounds played in front of a record crowd of over 1,000 fans and did not disappoint, coming out on top 68-51 over Susquehanna University.  Besides for a thrilling basketball game, fans contributed to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund by purchasing pink merchandise, raffle tickets, and entering in halftime contests. A Kindle Fire was the grand prize in the annual Toss for the Tatas halftime contest.  Following the game, the team, along with family, friends, and alumni, shared an evening together at Roosevelt's for the Play 4Kay reception.

To wrap up a fantastic week of events, Moravian hosted a high school showdown between Freedom High School and Selinsgrove High School.  The teams sported pink socks and t-shirts in support of the breast cancer awareness initiative.  Prizes were raffled off to raise money throughout the day.

The Moravian women's basketball team would like to thank everyone that contributed to the 2013 Play 4Kay event.  Whether it was the purchase of a $1 raffle ticket or a $500 donation, every cent counted and the team could not have raised the money they did without the help of so many people.  The team is thrilled with amount of money raised but more importantly, the awareness created around the Moravian College community and beyond far surpassed any dollar amount.  Thank you!

Story contributed by Assistant Coach Sara Steinman