The following report was created by Mary Kate Campbell, a senior diver and journalism major from Northwestern University. All credit for the article goes to her.
The Northwestern Women’s Swimming and Diving team will host its second-annual Breaststroke 4 Breast Cancer event from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Norris Aquatics Center in the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion in Evanston, Ill. This hour in the pool is not just another practice to prepare the Wildcats for Big Ten’s and NCAA meets; this time the laps, team spirit and camaraderie represent a fight beyond Northwestern and Evanston.
The idea came to senior, Megan Goss, after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer two summers ago. While on a road trip with her teammate, Jackie Powell, the two decided that there was something that Northwestern Swimming and Diving could do to help. “My mom is an incredibly strong woman and it was scary to see her in a situation where she was powerless in controlling what was happening to her,” Goss said. “Thankfully, the cancer was caught early, and she is now cancer free, but she and I both realized how many people we know are affected by breast cancer.”
After raising over $11,000 for local breast cancer research in the inaugural event last year, the Wildcats hope to raise even more money with your help. They invite you to join them in the fight against breast cancer, as it is something that has affected many people beyond the lanes of Northwestern. Spending hours in the pool seems to be a part of NU swimming and diving’s everyday life. The team trains together, competes together and cheers together as one team to prove that Northwestern is truly a special place to represent. But dedication to what they love and believe in does not end when practice time is over for the day.
Head Coach Jimmy Tierney believes that community service is a huge part of the student-athlete experience at Northwestern, giving his team the opportunity to focus on their lives outside of the classroom and in the pool. “I personally believe the goal is just as much to create community awareness for the tragic disease as much as to raise money for the cause,” Tierney said. “It brings our NU community together and generates a wonderful spirit of ‘giving back’ to assist others who are in need.” Participants can swim alongside the Northwestern Women’s Swimming and Diving team, Northwestern students, faculty members and other community members, or show support by visiting the all-pink bake sale and silent auction.
Spectators can also enjoy appearances by Willie the Wildcat and other special Northwestern guests. “We would love to raise more than the $11,000 that we raised last year,” Goss said. “It is a fight we are all in, so we might as well be fighting it together.”
Breaststroke 4 Breast Cancer is a great way to come together as one team, one Northwestern and one community all over the world. All proceeds will go towards breast cancer research at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. For more information about attending or donating to the event, please visit our Breastroke4BreastCancer official website.