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Lisa Marston's idea has blossomed into a national campaign
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Dig for the Cure Nights Continue to Grow in Number

Teams from A-10, ACC, C-USA, PAC-10, SAC to Raise Money for Breast Cancer Research

Sept. 29, 2006

Charlotte, N.C. - Head Coach Lisa Marston and the Charlotte 49ers Volleyball program are continuing a growing volleyball tradition by dedicating a home match to raising money for breast cancer research. This tradition has caught on with other coaches nationwide as all Atlantic 10 schools and eleven other programs have dedicated a night for the cause.

2006 will mark the fourth year in a row that the Charlotte 49ers volleyball team is raising money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Through the "Dig for the Cure" program, spearheaded by 49ers coach Lisa Marston, the 49ers and volleyball coaches around the country have helped raise more than $36,000 over the last three years for the Foundation. This year's 49ers "Dig for the Cure" game will be Oct. 20 vs. Rhode Island.

In 2005, with A-10 partners Dayton, Duquesne and Rhode Island also participating, the "Dig for the Cure" program raised over $10,000. In 2004, Coach Marston was successful in landing all fourteen Conference USA volleyball teams to participate in the program, and the result was a combined total of over $22,000. In 2006, each Atlantic 10 volleyball program is scheduled to participate, as well as 11 other teams from the ACC, PAC-10, BIG 12, C-USA and the South Atlantic Conference of Division II.

"My mother is a breast cancer survivor," Marston said. "We started this program to honor breast cancer survivors around the world. Most every person has been affected in some way by breast cancer, and so many people responded that we decided to expand it. I am so proud of the volleyball community for stepping up to raise money for breast cancer research. My lofty goal is that we raise a combined $50,000. My other goal is that this project brings awareness for breast cancer, but also to the college athletes who care about their communities. Athletes are continuously highlighted for bad decisions. It is about time the public sees the good that athletes do so much of"

Participating schools designated one home volleyball match in October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or November. Individual sponsors pledge money per dig earned by their team in the match, or can make a flat donation to the cause. The money raised by each team goes directly to the Komen Foundation's local affiliate in their community.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure® to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and generous donors, the Komen Foundation has raised more than $740 million for the fight against breast cancer.

For more information, call the National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1.800 I'M AWARE® (1.800.462.9273) or visit www.komen.org. Anyone interested in pledging money or making a donation to this year's Dig for the Cure effort can contact Charlotte head coach Lisa Marston by e-mailing her at ermarsto@email.uncc.edu.

Dig For the Cure Teams Scheduled Nights