Saturday, February 2
Jacksonville, Fla.
2 p.m.
University of North Florida
vs
Stetson
More Than A Game, Lamar Walks For A Cause
2/1/2013 2:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Live Stats
Live Video
Game Notes
Play 4Kay
Tickets
“I want to do something. I want to be part of finding an answer.” – Kay Yow, former NC State women's basketball head coach
The promotion of breast cancer awareness is not just one game for University of North Florida women's basketball junior Raneisha Lamar.
Nor is it the multiple Play 4Kay games during the month of February that is done in memory of former women's basketball icon and NC State head basketball coach Kay Yow, who succumb to breast cancer on Jan. 24, 2009.
Nor is it the entire month of October that is deemed Breast Cancer month.
Instead, for Lamar, breast cancer awareness lasts throughout the year.
“Breast cancer month is just one month; breast cancer awareness is an entire year for me,” said Lamar.
Lamar always has something pink. There are the multiple ribbons that are tied to her backpack. There are the pink shoelaces and pink patella straps that the 6-1 center dons every single UNF women's basketball game. There was the excitement when she got a pink ring on a recent basketball road trip. There was the thrill of discovering pink Nike spikes six months before her senior track season in high school was due to start. All of the pink has one single meaning.
“It's to keep fighting,” explained Lamar. “When I play sports, I play not only for me, but for the fighters, survivors and the taken. The pink just tells me to keep fighting no matter the circumstance. I know that they're going through worse times than what I'm going through.”
In 2012, the American Cancer Society estimated that 229,060 new cases of breast cancer were found in men and women and that the disease was responsible for 39,920 deaths. In 2013, it is estimated that nearly 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer and that an additional 64,640 of carcinoma in situ – the earliest form of breast cancer – will be diagnosed in women.
So far, no one related to Lamar has been diagnosed with the disease. But she did have someone close to her have breast cancer.
As a junior in high school, Lamar received news that her best friend's mom had breast cancer. That spurred Lamar's desire to help raise awareness for a disease that affects approximately 1 in every 8 women.
There was the notion of wearing something pink just to show support. Then there was an event called Makings Strides Against Breast Cancer that was put on by the American Cancer Society.
Lamar's mom, Kimberley, worked for a company that was taking part in a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event in south Florida. Lamar, her mom and her two sisters – Raeyvin and Danielle – all took part in the October 2008 event. Just the number of people that were there was an eye-opener for Lamar, who was just 17 at the time.
“We wore shirts and everything,” remembered Lamar. “I had no idea about any of it. That first walk, I was shocked and surprised. I didn't expect it to be as big as it was. I was expecting a much smaller crowd. It was huge.”
Since that first walk just four years ago, the best friend's mom is in remission and Lamar has done two other walks as part of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Her most recent walk took place last October in downtown Jacksonville.
“It worked out perfectly,” said Lamar with a huge smile. “Usually we have practice, so when Mom told me about it, I saw that we were off and told her we were doing the walk. Mom and my sisters drove back up to Jacksonville just to do the walk.”
A tweet regarding the walk sent out by Lamar caught the attention of UNF women's basketball head coach Mary Tappmeyer.
“Coach Tapp asked if I wanted the team to participate in the walk,” said Lamar.
“It's a cause that's pretty close to my heart,” said Tappmeyer. “Skye Barber's mom died of breast cancer and we had a pink bear for breast cancer that sat on the edge of the scorer's table for every game during Skye's senior season. My grandmother had it and a close friend has had three battles with it. But with Raneisha, it's really exciting to see someone that young really champion such an important cause.”
Starting out early on a Saturday morning, the mood was festive as the Ospreys and 1,000's of others covered a course in 3.1 miles in length that started and ended at Treaty Oak Park. Music blared over the speakers and large groups of pink mingled amongst each other, waiting for the signal to start the walk.
Some of the walk's participants were survivors. Some were walking in memory of a loved one that lost their battle. Others were walking for those that were fighting the disease, while others walked for support and awareness.
Throughout the course, participants cheered for each, especially at the end when walkers went under a tall pink and white balloon arch and the finish line. The celebration was still taking place in Treaty Oak Park with walkers forming one big group to dance to songs like the Wobble, Wop and Cha Cha Slide. The Ospreys jumped right in with the dancing, some even doing custom moves to the Wobble.
“Just knowing that my teammates embraced the walk, it was such a warm feeling,” said Lamar. “They saw the impact that breast cancer has on lives.
“With my first walk, I was more shocked and surprised,” added Lamar. “With this one, I wasn't. I knew how big it had become. Having more people there to support this cause and show awareness with me makes me think I'm doing something right. Before, it was just three people in the walk. Then it became 20 in this one. I feel like I've reached out to more people and showed awareness.”
**University of North Florida women's basketball hosts Stetson on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m., during which will be the Ospreys' Play 4Kay game that is sponsored by Walgreens. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. Tickets for UNF basketball games are available at UNF Arena, online or by calling (904) 620-BIRD or by email at ospreytickets@unf.edu. Doubleheaders with the men's team ticket prices are $12 Reserved, $10 Adult and $8 (Youth 17-under, Senior Citizens 55+, Active Military and UNF Faculty/Staff). UNF students with a valid Osprey1card and children under 2 are free. For additional ticket information, visit www.UNFOspreys.com.**
Live Video
Game Notes
Play 4Kay
Tickets
“I want to do something. I want to be part of finding an answer.” – Kay Yow, former NC State women's basketball head coach
The promotion of breast cancer awareness is not just one game for University of North Florida women's basketball junior Raneisha Lamar.
Nor is it the multiple Play 4Kay games during the month of February that is done in memory of former women's basketball icon and NC State head basketball coach Kay Yow, who succumb to breast cancer on Jan. 24, 2009.
Nor is it the entire month of October that is deemed Breast Cancer month.
Instead, for Lamar, breast cancer awareness lasts throughout the year.
“Breast cancer month is just one month; breast cancer awareness is an entire year for me,” said Lamar.
Lamar always has something pink. There are the multiple ribbons that are tied to her backpack. There are the pink shoelaces and pink patella straps that the 6-1 center dons every single UNF women's basketball game. There was the excitement when she got a pink ring on a recent basketball road trip. There was the thrill of discovering pink Nike spikes six months before her senior track season in high school was due to start. All of the pink has one single meaning.
“It's to keep fighting,” explained Lamar. “When I play sports, I play not only for me, but for the fighters, survivors and the taken. The pink just tells me to keep fighting no matter the circumstance. I know that they're going through worse times than what I'm going through.”
In 2012, the American Cancer Society estimated that 229,060 new cases of breast cancer were found in men and women and that the disease was responsible for 39,920 deaths. In 2013, it is estimated that nearly 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer and that an additional 64,640 of carcinoma in situ – the earliest form of breast cancer – will be diagnosed in women.
So far, no one related to Lamar has been diagnosed with the disease. But she did have someone close to her have breast cancer.
As a junior in high school, Lamar received news that her best friend's mom had breast cancer. That spurred Lamar's desire to help raise awareness for a disease that affects approximately 1 in every 8 women.
There was the notion of wearing something pink just to show support. Then there was an event called Makings Strides Against Breast Cancer that was put on by the American Cancer Society.
Lamar's mom, Kimberley, worked for a company that was taking part in a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event in south Florida. Lamar, her mom and her two sisters – Raeyvin and Danielle – all took part in the October 2008 event. Just the number of people that were there was an eye-opener for Lamar, who was just 17 at the time.
“We wore shirts and everything,” remembered Lamar. “I had no idea about any of it. That first walk, I was shocked and surprised. I didn't expect it to be as big as it was. I was expecting a much smaller crowd. It was huge.”
Since that first walk just four years ago, the best friend's mom is in remission and Lamar has done two other walks as part of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Her most recent walk took place last October in downtown Jacksonville.
“It worked out perfectly,” said Lamar with a huge smile. “Usually we have practice, so when Mom told me about it, I saw that we were off and told her we were doing the walk. Mom and my sisters drove back up to Jacksonville just to do the walk.”
A tweet regarding the walk sent out by Lamar caught the attention of UNF women's basketball head coach Mary Tappmeyer.
“Coach Tapp asked if I wanted the team to participate in the walk,” said Lamar.
“It's a cause that's pretty close to my heart,” said Tappmeyer. “Skye Barber's mom died of breast cancer and we had a pink bear for breast cancer that sat on the edge of the scorer's table for every game during Skye's senior season. My grandmother had it and a close friend has had three battles with it. But with Raneisha, it's really exciting to see someone that young really champion such an important cause.”
Starting out early on a Saturday morning, the mood was festive as the Ospreys and 1,000's of others covered a course in 3.1 miles in length that started and ended at Treaty Oak Park. Music blared over the speakers and large groups of pink mingled amongst each other, waiting for the signal to start the walk.
Some of the walk's participants were survivors. Some were walking in memory of a loved one that lost their battle. Others were walking for those that were fighting the disease, while others walked for support and awareness.
Throughout the course, participants cheered for each, especially at the end when walkers went under a tall pink and white balloon arch and the finish line. The celebration was still taking place in Treaty Oak Park with walkers forming one big group to dance to songs like the Wobble, Wop and Cha Cha Slide. The Ospreys jumped right in with the dancing, some even doing custom moves to the Wobble.
“Just knowing that my teammates embraced the walk, it was such a warm feeling,” said Lamar. “They saw the impact that breast cancer has on lives.
“With my first walk, I was more shocked and surprised,” added Lamar. “With this one, I wasn't. I knew how big it had become. Having more people there to support this cause and show awareness with me makes me think I'm doing something right. Before, it was just three people in the walk. Then it became 20 in this one. I feel like I've reached out to more people and showed awareness.”
**University of North Florida women's basketball hosts Stetson on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m., during which will be the Ospreys' Play 4Kay game that is sponsored by Walgreens. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. Tickets for UNF basketball games are available at UNF Arena, online or by calling (904) 620-BIRD or by email at ospreytickets@unf.edu. Doubleheaders with the men's team ticket prices are $12 Reserved, $10 Adult and $8 (Youth 17-under, Senior Citizens 55+, Active Military and UNF Faculty/Staff). UNF students with a valid Osprey1card and children under 2 are free. For additional ticket information, visit www.UNFOspreys.com.**
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