One in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. For women’s basketball coach Shereka Wright, it’s a statistic that hits particularly close to home. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago, but thanks in part to an early diagnosis, she was able to beat it and has since been cancer free.
“In our community on the women’s side, so many different players know someone who has been affected by breast cancer,” she says.
So, when UTA Athletics launched UTA Beats Cancer, a focus on breast cancer awareness and research was the obvious choice for women’s basketball. In the 2020-21 season, five athletics programs are focused on fundraising for cancer research and survivorship programs. Their philanthropic efforts have also been boosted through a partnership with the Moncrief Cancer Institute. This year, UTA Beats Cancer aims to provide over 500 free mammograms through the Moncrief partnership.
“UTA Beats Cancer was created to make a positive impact on our local community,” says Eric Trimborn, director of UTA Beats Cancer. “Our goal is to raise as many funds as possible and change as many lives as possible.”
