West Windsor, N.J. – The Mercer County Community College (MCCC) women’s basketball team paid tribute to the many women who are fighting breast cancer and the families affected by the disease at MCCC’s sixth annual “Think Pink” Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Feb.4.  (Due to the postponement of the event, only the women’s team was able to participate.)

The players traded in their standard shoelaces and socks for pink ones as they took to the cour t at the MCCC gymnasium in a game versus Union County College.

The event was co-sponsored by the Athletics Department and the Mercer chapter of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) to benefit the Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC) of the YWCA-Princeton.

Athletics staff member Erin Cahill-Wetzel, an AAWCC member who helped to organize the event, explained that “Think Pink” is held to raise awareness about breast cancer and the resources available through the volunteer-based BCRC. A staff from the organization set up an educational display in the lobby, and both Cahill-Wetzel and WWFM host Rachel Katz, a breast cancer survivor, spoke at halftime. Proceeds from the event and a women's basketball t-shirt sale will be donated to BCRC.

The night featured raffle prizes donated by local businesses and organizations including Carella’s Hallmark and Chocolates, Carella’s Shoes, Caesar’s Bagels & Deli, Central Perk Bagels, C L E B & Associate, Mannino’s 3 Pizza, and Mark Pratico Jewelers. The drawing also included tickets to MCCC’s Kelsey Theatre, and tickets to basketball games at Princeton University and Rider University.

Cahill-Wetzel extended special thanks to the organizations that donated items, noting that the raffle drawing has become a major part of the fundraising effort.

The Mercer basketball team was all warmed up for the event, having volunteered for a similar event at Princeton University on Jan. 30.  Cahill-Wetzel observed that this kind of involvement enhances students’ experience as members of an MCCC athletic team.  

“What they do on the court may be about scoring and winning, but there are so many meaningful ways to contribute as a college student,” Cahill-Wetzel said.  “Community service gives these women a chance to represent Mercer in a whole different way and lets them know that their efforts can make a real difference in the community.”