VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Athletic Department with the help of Housing and Residential Life is raising awareness and funds to support breast cancer research on Wednesday, Feb. 20, by participating in the annual Play4Kay Initiative.

Play4Kay generates funds for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Since 2013, VU’s Athletic Department has raised nearly $21,000 to help support research efforts. This is the seventh consecutive year the Trailblazers have participated.

The women’s basketball team will wear pink uniforms in the Play4Kay game against Mineral Area at 5 p.m. EST inside the P.E. Complex. A men’s game between VU and Lewis and Clark follows at 7 p.m. The gate proceeds will go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

The namesake of the initiative, Kay Yow, was a college head coach for 38 years and past president and founding member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Her name is synonymous with women’s basketball at North Carolina State. She is a member of the Naismith National Basketball Hall of Fame and achieved more than 700 career victories. Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. She passed away in 2009 after an on-again, off-again battle with the disease.

VU Women’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Harry Meeks has a special tie to Yow. He had the pleasure of meeting her while he was an assistant coach at Western Carolina University. This left a lasting impression on him and made this cause important to him and to VU.

Shining the spotlight on efforts to beat cancer and raising awareness of the disease has a very personal meaning to Meeks. His wife, Martha Meeks, was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and is undergoing treatment.

Harry Meeks and VU has made a strong commitment to supporting the fight against cancer.

The very first year VU participated in Play4Kay, Meeks buzzed his hair with a challenge of raising $1,000. Martha Meeks didn’t particularly like the cut and he eventually agreed to grow his hair out. In previous years, Harry Meeks has kissed a piglet, dressed in a pink zoot suit, and dyed his hair pink in his efforts to bring attention to this major cause.

Pledge cards are available in the VU athletic office located in the lower level of the P.E. Complex. Monetary donations are also being accepted online by visiting www.govutrailblazers.com. Users will be taken to the VU Foundation Athletics donation page and there’s an option to donate to the VU Athletic Department Cancer (Play4Kay) Project.

A silent auction will take place Wednesday and Saturday with proceeds supporting the fund. Donations are welcome.

Black and pink Play4Kay t-shirts are for sale in the VU Athletic Office, Old Post Bookstore, and during basketball games. Cost is $10.

For additional VU Play4Kay information, contact Lesa Tucker, lltucker@vinu.edu or 812-888-4511. For more information about the Play4Kay and Kay Yow Cancer Fund, visit https://kayyow.com.

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LINK to VU Online Newsroom, click HERE
LINK to VU Athletics, click HERE

MARCIA MARTINEZ, University Life Reporter & Sports Information Director
   812-888-4164 office, 314-599-1519 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu

TRAVIS DAVID, Assistant Sports Information Director
   812-888-6831 office, vuathletics@vinu.edu

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/news/newsroom