ELON, N.C. ? A record number 11 schools in the Southern Conference will be participating in the 2008 Dig for the Cure campaign, which raises money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the prevention of breast cancer. Elon, Western Carolina, College of Charleston, Appalachian State, UNC Greensboro, Georgia Southern, Davidson, Furman, Wofford, Chattanooga and The Citadel will join 125 colleges and five conferences in the fight against breast cancer.
“Having a great connection with the SoCon after coaching at Davidson for seven years, I challenged the coaches in the conference who were already participating in Dig for the Cure to get the rest of the league involved,” Dig for the Cure founder and former Davidson volleyball coach Lisa Marston said. “I am so proud to have the Southern Conference joining in the effort and know that the teams will put forth a tremendous fundraising effort that will in turn create much needed awareness about breast cancer.”
Marston started Dig for the Cure in 2003 while coaching at Charlotte. Her focus was to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research and provide a united community service outlet for the volleyball community. Since it’s beginning, Dig for the Cure has raised over $340,000 for local chapters of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, including over $230,000 last season. It is Marston’s hope to get all conferences that she has been affiliated with to participate in Dig for the Cure as a whole, so far the Southern Conference and Atlantic-10 Conference have stepped up to help the foundation reach its 2008 goal of $250,000.
Fans can help support the 2008 Dig for the Cure campaign by making a one-time donation or by pledging an amount per dig that the team collects. Southern Conference fans can participate in any of the 10 Dig for the Cure dates this season.
Elon and The Citadel kick off the SoCon Dig for the Cure schedule on Oct. 8 when they host UNC Greensboro and the College of Charleston, respectively. UNC Greensboro’s Dig for the Cure match date is slated for Oct. 11 when they face The Citadel. Appalachian State will serve as the D4C opponent for both Furman and Wofford on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, respectively. College of Charleston will have its turn to support the cause when they host Chattanooga on Oct. 19. Georgia Southern has selected its Oct. 20 match against UNC Greensboro as their Dig for the Cure date. Appalachian State and Western Carolina have selected Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 as their D4C dates, when they each host The Citadel. Chattanooga will host Davidson for its D4C match. Davidson will also be participating in the campaign, but has not set a date.
For more information on Dig for the Cure or the Susan G. Komen Foundation, please visit www.digforthecure.com. If you would like to support any of the school’s, please contact that institution’s athletic department.
Schedule of Dig for the Cure Dates (Home Teams Listed)
Elon ? Oct. 8
The Citadel ? Oct. 8
UNC Greensboro ? Oct. 11
Furman ? Oct. 18
College of Charleston ? Oct. 19
Wofford ? Oct. 19
Georgia Southern ? Oct. 20
Appalachian State ? Oct. 24
Western Carolina ? Oct. 25
Chattanooga - Nov. 1
Davidson ? TBA