Gators Go Pink(ish) | October 2024

Jolanthe Erb (Director of Operations)

Each year, the Gators hold a fundraiser to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (bcrf.org). While other fundraisers we hold each year go toward team scholarships or other team-related funds, this is a cause and organizanization our team wholeheartedly supports as we have several families who have been impacted by breast cancer, including Coach Scot and his family. Here's a note from Coach Scot sharing his personal connection. 

Gators,

Dr. Melissa Adams-Budde was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in January of 2015. She fought a brave battle with dignity, character, poise, and eternal optimism. She succumbed to her illness almost five years later.  

Most everyone knows about breast cancer. Melissa’s experience has probably saved many of her relatives’ lives, as most of them have done genetic testing and now know to act on the first signs of the disease.  

So the most frustrating aspect for us wasn’t awareness; this disease has been in our population for centuries, but the treatment is sometimes guesswork. My hope is that research will lead to better treatment plans resulting in better life extension.   

Awareness is important, but action is better.  As we have done during previous early fall meets, we will have special pink-adorned caps that the swimmers can purchase and wear during competition.  Proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Coach Scot

 
 
Over the last several years our team has raised $5400+ supporting breast cancer research.  Our team has two ways we can join together and raise funds over the next several weeks: a special breast cancer awareness cap as well as a general fundraising page with the   Breast Cancer Research Foundation . 
 
  1. Purchase a Cap! These limited edition Virginia Gator caps ($15/ea) will only be available until sold out! Caps are already here and can be worn during our SwimRVA meet, so we will begin handing them out! ALL profits from cap sales will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Order a cap here: https://forms.gle/gtrqGBWityhMB19Y7
  2. Donate directly to our team's Breast Cancer Research Foundation fundraising page. 

Feel free to share the fundraiser and our team's fundraising page with your friends and family! All caps will be delivered on deck. We will keep our Breast Cancer Research Foundation fundraising page open through the end of October. 

Note: We do have a few caps remaining from past years and are happy to sell those as well once we run out of our 2024 caps!