Phoenix women go pink for cancer in front of a sellout crowd

First, the record sell-out crowd at the Kress Center cheered the No. 13 nationally-ranked Green Bay women’s basketball team to a win over Butler, Saturday, Feb. 26. Then they cheered another victory —more than $21,000 raised and donated to local families battling cancer as part of the program’s annual “Coaches vs. Cancer” and “Pink Zone” efforts.

It was the first sell-out crowd in the history of the Kress Center. Much of the day’s events honored cancer survivors and focused on raising dollars to help those battling the disease. Both teams wore pink uniforms, and the Phoenix jerseys were auctioned or raffled. Coaches wore tennis shoes with pink shoe strings. Hundreds of cancer survivors received free admission and Pink Zone t-shirts, and hundreds of other fans wore pink to show their support to the effort.

Bellin Health is the title sponsor for the event, and proceeds will go to the local Bellin Health Patient Assistance fund. Broadway Automotive and Cellcom sponsored as well, providing matching donations for several Pink Zone events.

Saturday’s Pink Zone game signaled the end of a month of efforts by Green Bay athletics to raise cancer awareness and included silent auctions, raffles and Coaches vs. Cancer events. Saturday’s activities included a “Dash for Cash” with UW-Green Bay cheer team members and local school children collecting donations from fans.