The San Jacinto College women's basketball team is one of over 600 schools committed to raising breast cancer awareness through the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) 2008 Think Pink initiative.

   Think Pink is a global, unified effort for the WBCA's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.  The week set aside for this year's initiative is February 8 - 17, 2008.  To date, over 600 women's basketball teams across the nation have committed to helping the cause.  Participating schools range from all divisions of NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, high school and AAU play.  San Jacinto College will participate in the initiative with its game against Kilgore College at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2008.

   “The WBCA is very excited to promote an initiative that touches all levels of our membership and unifies them for such a great cause,” said Beth Bass, WBCA CEO.  “It has been remarkable to watch the support of this initiative grow from 120 schools last year to over 600 schools for 2008.  With the help of each of our members, the women's basketball community can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.”

   For San Jac head coach Shawn Silman, the Think Pink cause hits close to home.  As a member of the WBCA, Silman was initially drawn to the Think Pink initiative because breast cancer has directly affected his family.  Silman's mother, Judy, is a breast cancer survivor, as are two of his aunts.  The disease, sadly, claimed the life of one of his grandmothers, and both of his wife's grandmothers.  However, he remains passionate about the cause and immediately jumped on board with the WBCA's initiative.

   “My mother was diagnosed over a year ago with breast cancer, battled through her treatments and is now cancer free,” noted Silman.  “When she was first diagnosed, we went through a huge range of emotions from fear to sympathy for her and the pain she was enduring, to determination of beating this disease.  It's my hope that we can increase awareness for this disease and one day find a cure.” 
Silman, now in his 12th year at the helm of the women's basketball program, wants his team to be a part of something, outside the gym, that has a significant meaning.  He also hopes that through this experience the team will realize the importance of participating in something bigger than their everyday routine.  “All of us should do something to try and make a difference, no matter how large or small the effort,” added Silman.  “It is the effort that is important.”

   The San Jac and Kilgore women's basketball teams will wear pink t-shirts during warm-up prior to the Feb. 16 game, and the San Jac coaching staff will don pink ties.  Fans attending the game are encouraged to wear pink in support of the cause.  A ceremony at halftime will honor local breast cancer survivors, including members of Silman's family, and a portion of the proceeds collected from concessions will be donated to a local charity for breast cancer research.
   For more information about the WBCA or the Think Pink initiative, visit the WBCA website at http://www.wbca.org/.  All San Jacinto College women's basketball home games are played at Nichols Gymnasium on the North Campus, located at 5800 Uvalde in East Houston.