RADFORD VOLLEYBALL SET TO HOST DIG PINK MATCH

RADFORD, Va. - The Radford volleyball team will acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month by teaming up with the Side-Out Foundation and hosting its annual Dig Pink Match on Saturday, Oct. 23 when it hosts Charleston Southern at 4 p.m. in the Dedmon Center.

October represents breast cancer awareness month and all over the country teams of all levels and all sports will be participating in games to help fight breast cancer. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the match to show their support in the fight against breast cancer.

The Side-Out Foundation is an organization started by Rick Dunetz, a former high school volleyball coach at West Springfield High School in Springfield, Va. In his first season, he learned that his mother, Gloria Dunetz, was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time.

One day during practice, he took a moment to share his mom's story with the team. They were inspired by his sincerity as well as his commitment to them, especially in view of what he was dealing with personally. They decided they wanted to win, for him as well as his mom.

The team started to put together a winning season. Gloria watched many of the games, and the girls' determination to win brought her great hope. She faced her own adversity with courage and optimism. The team went on to win the district championship title, a status never before achieved at its high school.

Rick observed a transformation in both his team and his mom during that wonderful season and he created Side-Out to reach other athletes and cancer patients. Through the foundation's events and education, he brings hope and energy to the breast cancer cause and it all began with one magical season.

However, the Side-Out Foundations took a tragic hit this past summer when Gloria succumbed to breast cancer on Friday, August 20, 2010 in her home in Fairfax, Va. She was the inspiration for the founding of the organization.

This year, the Side-Out Foundation has over 1,500 colleges, universities and high school programs joining together to raise money and awareness to award grants to medical research organizations and entities dedicated to providing compassionate support to breast cancer patient and their families.

To donate to Radford's cause, and help the team reach its goal of raising $1,000 please visit its team page by clicking here.

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