VINCENNES, Ind. - Dart Abney loves producing designs and he eagerly accepted the opportunity to create a t-shirt for a worthy cause.

The Vincennes University Athletic Department is participating for the seventh year in the Play4Kay Initiative and raising funds to support women’s cancer research. Donations will go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Kay Yow was a former North Carolina State women’s basketball coach, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and passed in 2009.

Most people have a personal link to cancer and Abney, an occupational graphic design major, is no different. That is one of the reasons why the Walton, Indiana, native readily agreed to design VU’s Play4Kay t-shirts.

“It’s something I feel connected to and a lot of people feel connected to,” Abney said. “I’ve had a lot of family members who have had cancer. I had a band director who had cancer pass away during my time in high school. My grandmother passed away from cancer. Both of my grandfathers have been fighting cancer or are still fighting cancer.”

The Play4Kay t-shirts he designed are black with bold pink lettering, a pink basketball, and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund slogan “Give Strength.”

“I wanted a design that would catch the eye with a meaning behind it that would push it even further,” Abney said. “I really like their slogan, ‘Give Strength,’ because I connect with it. That’s what people need. They need the strength. They need the hope.”

All gate proceeds from tonight’s Play4Kay basketball games will go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The women’s game against Mineral Area College begins at 5 p.m. The men’s game between the Trailblazers and Lewis and Clark starts at 7 p.m.

There are several ways to support VU’s Play4Kay fundraising efforts, t-shirts are for sale in the VU Athletic Office in the lower level of the P.E. Complex and Old Post Bookstore. Donation pledge cards are also available in the VU Athletic Office. Donations are accepted online using a link at www.govutrailblazers.com that takes uses to the VU Foundation Athletics donation page and VU Athletic Department Cancer (Play4Kay) Project. A silent auction is also taking place tonight and Feb. 23 in the P.E. Complex.

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LINK to VU Online Newsroom, click HERE

MARCIA MARTINEZ, University Life Reporter & Sports Information Director
   812-888-4164 office, 314-599-1519 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu
VICKIE PUFFER, Communications Coordinator & Online Newsroom Manager
   812-888-4162 office, 812-887-4635 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, vpuffer@vinu.edu
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/news/newsroom.