Student-athletes raise funds for Tulane Cancer Center patient relief

Student-athletes from Mount Carmel Academy, St. Mary’s Dominican, Archbishop Chapelle, Cabrini, Archbishop Shaw and St. Scholastica Academy high schools, as well as Loyola University will present Tulane Cancer Center with a check for $38,505—cumulative proceeds from each school’s “Pink Games” fundraisers held last fall.

Pink Games are a series of benefit volleyball games and other athletic competitions where athletes and often spectators wear pink to honor women fighting breast cancer as well as those who have lost their battles.  Some schools incorporate ceremonies where the athletes honor family members or friends who have been diagnosed.

Funds are also raised throughout the volleyball season via a large variety of other student-led initiatives, including bake sales, dress-down days, costuming, and more.

"It all adds up to an extremely significant and important gift for our patients," said Prescott Deininger, director of Tulane Cancer Center.

"The Pink Games partnership with Tulane Cancer Center started in 2013, and since then, funds raised exceed $155,000,” Deininger says. “We couldn't be prouder of the kids who made this possible."

As in years past, this donation will benefit the Cancer Center's Patient Relief Fund - a resource for providing much-needed financial assistance for those facing a cancer diagnosis as well as financial burdens that could become barriers to their care. The Fund assists with everything from medical bills and prescription co-pays to transportation and lodging for patients who have to travel to New Orleans for their clinic visits and treatments.

David Mocklin, head athletic trainer at Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine and Mount Carmel Academy, founded the Pink Games effort.

“It is amazing to see the amount of effort and support that these schools put into the Pink Games during the month of October," said Mocklin. "I would like to thank everyone who made a donation towards the Patient Relief Fund. These funds have a direct impact on the people who are in need at the Tulane Cancer Center.”

The check presentation will take place at 10:45 a.m. January 14, at the Jill H. And Avram A. Glazer Family Club in Tulane University’s Yulman Stadium, 2900 Ben Weiner Dr., New Orleans, LA  70118.