This entry is written by Shanay Freeman, a basketball student-athlete at Fairleigh Dickinson. She is a member of the Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

As I watched the North Carolina/Maryland women's basketball game recently, I was reminded of my coach and all women's coaches who fight cancer. Both teams wore some form of pink: UNC's jerseys and Maryland's shooting shirts.

My coach died just a few years ago from cancer,and more recently we have learned about the death of Kay Yow, the former women's basketball coach at North Carolina State. There are so many women and people who suffer from this disease that awareness is more important now than ever. The WBCA formulated an initiative called "Think Pink", now called "WBCA Pink Zone," to create awareness and raise funds for cancer research. As a former women's basketball player, I am proud to have participated in this initiative.

According to the WBCA, in 2008 "over 1,200 teams and over $930,000 was raised for breast cancer awareness and research." This is an issue that hits close to home for me but, more importantly, this is an issue affecting so many of our coaches. I urge student-athletes to ask your administration to participate in "WBCA Pink Zone," if you do not already do some form of cancer research and awareness fundraiser, The more awareness and research we can create, the better chance we have to finding a cure for this disease.

Kay Yow devoted a large part of her life to breast cancer awareness after being diagnosed in 1987. Kay Yow became an inspiration to all those around her even those who weren't blessed to know her personally. Her continuous effort to fight her disease inspired people to always try their best at everything and not give up. She was a mentor, and al living example of how to fight to the end.

Make sure you can be a part of a great cause. Think Pink!!!!