The Malone University volleyball, women's soccer, men's soccer and football programs are joining forces with the Beyond the Game organization to raise awareness and funds for the fight against Breast, Uterine and Ovarian Cancer.

Throughout the month of October, the Pioneer athletic teams will be working together, using multiple fundraisers to benefit the Josette Beddell Memorial Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

The upcoming Cancer Awareness events that Malone student-athletes will participate in include:
 

Date	Event	Time	Location
Oct. 18	Women's Soccer home vs. Ursuline	4:30 pm	Canton Central Catholic HS
Oct. 18	Men's Soccer home vs. Lake Erie	7:00 pm	Canton Central Catholic HS
Oct. 21	Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk	10:00 am	Hazen Field on Malone's campus
Oct. 26	"Rally for a Cure" Volleyball home vs. Ursuline	7:00 pm	Osborne Hall
Oct. 27	Football vs. Alderson Broaddus	1:00 pm	Benson Stadium

"Cancer has affected many families across the world," noted Devin Jordan, the President of Beyond the Game who also serves as the Pioneer football team's Passing Game Coordinator. "This year, I lost my aunt due to cancer and I saw the impact it had on my family. I'm glad I could help be a part of bringing our student-athletes at Malone together for such a great cause and help families within our own community deal with their battle with cancer through this fundraiser."

Notably, Pioneer football will be challenging each member of the team to raise a minimum of $20.  Those players who meet or exceed the $20 fundraising goal will have the opportunity to wear a pink article of clothing during the team's October 27 game.

In a similar way, the Malone women's soccer team has set a $20 fundraising goal for each student-athlete.  If the goal is met, each member of the team will wear pink Adidas socks during the Pioneers' game on October 18.

Student-athletes from the men's soccer and volleyball teams will also be wearing pink on the field or court during their home events and donations for Cancer Awareness will be collected at each venue.  

"The path I've traveled to start and run a local non-profit has led me to meet so many people willing to support and help others in our community," said Mary Beddell, President and Founder of the Josette Beddell Memorial Foundation. "I am forever grateful for each and every person who has joined our mission of helping local families."

Sydney Campanaro, Community Development Manager for the American Cancer Society's North Central Region, was also excited to partner with Malone.  Pioneer student-athletes will participate in the Making Strides walk and assist with set-up and tear down responsibilities.

"The Canton Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is a powerful event that raises awareness and funds to end breast cancer," said Campanaro. "This year's walk is expected to bring together more than 8,000 people on Sunday, October 21st at Malone University! At the event, our community embraces a bittersweet mix of purpose – celebrating survivorship while paying meaningful tribute to loved ones lost. Because of our supporters, we have been able to continue to invest in breakthrough research, provide free rides to chemo, free places to stay near treatment and a live, 24/7 cancer helpline for answers and support. This 360 approach to attacking cancer makes the American Cancer Society unique. It is not just about preventing the disease; it is also about caring for those who have been diagnosed."

Pink t-shirts will be on sale on Malone's campus throughout the month of October and at each of the events mentioned above with all proceeds benefitting the worthy cause. 

"There is hope beyond the diagnosis of cancer," said Malone volleyball coach Tanya Hockman.  "Our goal is to lovingly extend support to those impacted by the disease through this fundraising effort and the power of prayer."

For more information about the Josette Beddell Foundation, please visit: http://www.josettememorial.org/

To learn more about the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, please visit: makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=70000