In volleyball, “side-out” means regaining control of the ball. The Side-Out Foundation helps people living with breast cancer regain control of their lives. The Side-Out Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps women living with metastatic breast cancer regain control of their lives. The Side-Out Foundation actively uses its resources to help formulate treatments and possible cures for this aggressive disease. Starting in 2016, St Edmund Prep has partnered with the Side-Out Foundation to help raise funds for research of this disease. Breast cancer affects one in eight women in the world. Metastatic breast cancer is also one of the most advanced forms of the disease and, sadly, the area that receives the least research funding.
Through the sport of volleyball, high school teams partner with Side-Out to rally for metastatic breast cancer research. High school teams from around the country all use “Dig Pink” to help raise awareness for metastatic breast cancer. Since 2016, each year the girls JV and varsity volleyball host a series of events to help raise funds in support of the Side-Out Foundation.
At St. Edmund Prep, this tradition has been passed down for almost 10 years. Our job at SEP is to help advocate the mission of the Side-Out Foundation, and the Girls JV and Varsity volleyball teams do this through our Dig Pink rally. Raising money to support Side-Out and its mission has a huge impact on many women living with this disease today. Hosting bake sales, selling T-shirts, and raffling off tickets are all ways we raise money for Dig Pink. The support from students, teachers, faculty, parents, and staff at SEP greatly impacts our campaign. The annual Dig Pink dress down is a day where the whole school gets to wear the Dig Pink shirt and show support to the volleyball teams.
On October 15th, the girls’ JV and varsity volleyball teams defeated Bishop Loughlin for the annual Dig Pink game. Our efforts on the court definitely showed through our Dig Pink campaign. The volleyball teams worked together to raise over $7,000 for our Dig Pink campaign. The girls worked hard to achieve a win on the court and a win for the breast cancer community. Every $2,000 donated to the Side-Out Foundation helps one breast cancer patient. Both volleyball teams are so proud of the legacy of Dig Pink and excited for more years to come.
2025 Dig Pink Campaign Link: https://giving.side-out.org/campaigns/22288
Check out the Dig Pink coverage from The Tablet: https://thetablet.org/st-edmunds-holds-dig-pink-for-breast-cancer-research/