Fighting breast cancer one dig at a time

By Margo Consul

The women's volleyball team will not only battle the Gonzaga Bulldogs this Thursday, but they will also aid in the battle against breast cancer.

The team will be hosting the annual breast cancer fundraiser Dig for the Cure this Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Dig for the Cure campaign was started in 2003 by Lisa Marston, the head coach of the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, and has since spread throughout the country.

Last year, the Broncos raised over $3,000 for breast cancer research, and they are hoping to surpass that amount this year.

"Each individual player is planning to raise $250," junior setter Lindsy Davigeadono said.

The team is expected to raise at least $4,500 before the outside donations.

"It really brings us together as a team and with the community," Davigeadono said. "It enables us to go out and to be able to explain to them what we do and how we are supporting.

"It's just a great bonding thing, and it's for a great cause. What more could you ask for?" said Davigeadono.

Supporters can put down a flat donation or pledge a dollar a dig. The dig count can be for an individual player or for the team total, and all the earnings will go directly to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The foundation was established in 1982 by Komen's sister Nancy G. Brinker.

It was developed in honor of Komen, who passed away at the age of 36 after battling the disease for three years.

There are about two and a half million breast cancer survivors in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.

Sophomore Kim Courtney put these statistics in perspective.

"I just read recently that one in eight women have breast cancer, so if you think about it, that's two girls on our team that could potentially be affected," she said.

"For me, its just reaching out to someone you knew or know that could be affected by this, so reaching out and helping women everywhere," said Courtney.

At the 2007 Dig for the Cure, Santa Clara senior Caroline Walters led the team with 13 digs.

"Most of the people put their money on her because they knew that she'd get a lot of digs," Davigeadono said.

According to Davigeadono, the total digs can range anywhere from as low as 20 to over 50 in the course of a match.

However, there is always the exception to the rule, like the 1986 Santa Clara team that accumulated 118 digs in a three-game match.

According to the foundation's official Web site, since its inception, they have raised more than $1 billion for research for a cure.

The American Cancer Society estimated that 182,460 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women in 2008 alone.

An estimated 40,480 women will die from the disease this year.

Although there is a one in eight chance of getting the disease, the chance of dying from the disease is one in 35.

The Broncos are encouraging all students to come a make a pledge or donation to support the team and Dig for the Cure.

"You're supporting your school, you're supporting breast cancer and you feel good about yourself because you gave to people who are in need," Davigeadono said.

"It's a great thing," Davigeadono said.

Contact Margo Consul at (408) 551-1918 or at mconsul@scu.edu.