Pink In The Rink
by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
November 10, 2012 10:07 PM
The stands at the Sioux Falls Arena were packed Saturday for the Sioux Falls Stampede’s game against the Lincoln Stars.
But fans weren’t wearing their usual black and blue colors. Instead, hockey fans and players were wearing pink.
The game was about more than checking and scoring against the Lincoln Stars, it was about raising money and awareness for Avera’s Cancer Institute.
So the first ever “Pink out the Rink,” took place to support breast cancer.
"Avera, one of our proud sponsors came to us and we started talking about some fun promotions we could do,” said Tom Garrity, CEO of Sioux Falls Sports.
40 gallons of pink paint later, the ice rink at the Sioux Falls Arena went from white to pink for Saturday’s Stampede hockey game.
.
"I think it has turned out well, with the sell out tonight that we will be looking to do it every year,” said Garrity.
But that wasn’t all; almost every seat had a fan in pink, and even the player’s put their normal jerseys aside to raise awareness for breast cancer.
"I mean, I think that's really great that the guys put on pink too. You know, real men wear pink,” said Jil Roberts, a breast cancer survivor.
Jil Roberts is a breast cancer survivor who has been in remission for three years. She had the honor of dropping the first puck at Saturday’s game. She said the event will hopefully raise money to help others who are fighting the disease.
"There are people out there that cant afford mammograms,” said Roberts.
Roberts also hopes the money will help find a cure.
But Saturday’s pink rink and fans from all over the Sioux Empire showed her something money can’t buy.
“Our community supports us 100, probably 110 percent. I mean it’s awesome,” said Roberts.
She said that support is what keeps those fighting the disease going, and the hope for a cure strong.
At the game, fans were able to participate in a raffle to win a pink stick signed by all the players of the Sioux Falls Stampede, as well as a jersey. They were also able to purchase pucks, and one dollar from every bag of cotton candy was donated as well.
All of those proceeds go to Avera Cancer’s Institute.
