If information is power, then early detection of breast cancer is a game changer. To help young women learn about breast cancer and have the upper hand in the fight, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has partnered with Grand Valley State University to host Pink the Rink.
Divided into two parts, Pink the Rink is an open skate and hockey game night that will take place Friday. From 8-9:50 p.m. people are invited to skate for the cause, and then at 10 p.m. the GVSU women’s hockey team will face the Michigan State University women’s hockey team.
Admissions for the open skate and hockey game go to the fight against cancer in the Grand Rapids area via the Komen Foundation. Typically the area that hosts an event will receive 80 percent of the proceeds while the foundation will receive the remaining 20 percent.
This is the inaugural year for Pink the Rink.
“We are really honored to have the Walker Ice and Fitness Center sponsor this event,” said Tanya Hornan, an event coordinator from the foundation. “To have them reach out and help organize an event like this for young people is really exciting.”
There are plans for continuing this event on annual basis.
“We hope to expand and get bigger each year,” said Molly Mahoney, who involved GVSU in the event. As the creator of Grand Valley’s female hockey team, she decided to contact the team and ask the members to get involved.
Support was also garnered from the Grand Rapids Griffins and Coca-Cola. The Griffins donated an autographed hockey stick as a prize for the raffle to be held while Coca-Cola donated pink lemonade- all of these proceeds will go to breast cancer awareness.
The event will be held at the Walker Ice and Fitness Center, located at 4151 Remembrance Drive Admission to the open skate is $4 for adults and $3 for college students. The hockey game will start at 10 p.m. and costs $3 for admission.
Opening the hockey game with a ceremonial puck drop will be Lindsay Pavey, a 2004 GVSU graduate and a breast cancer survivor. After receiving six treatments in 18 weeks and a final surgery in December 2011, she is now a one-month survivor.
“It’s a pretty crazy journey,” Pavey said. “It’s definitely a life-changing event. You just don’t know each step of the way what’s going to happen. You really have to stay strong and keep your head in a good place.”
Pavey said she would like to see the event continue on in the years to come.
“I really think that these kind of events are really good to help inform the young community,” she added. “I just think it’s something you just don’t think can happen to you this early or they don’t tell you to start checking yourself until you’re 40.”
To learn more about the event, go to the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/events/244258825643943/.
jcampbell@lanthorn.com