BOSTON- The University of Massachusetts Boston will promote Cancer awareness through the national "Dig Pink" campaign during its volleyball matches on Saturday, October 24.

This fall, thousands of teams from around the country will be participating in the Dig Pink National Breast Cancer Awareness Rally. High School and College teams will be promoting Breast health education in the community as well as raising funds to help eradicate Breast Cancer.

UMass Boston athletics will promote cancer awareness in a variety of ways. Statistics and information on cancer provided by the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and will be made available to those attending to educate fans about the dreaded disease and the ongoing fight to end its ongoing threat.

Dig Pink attendees will watch the players compete on the court and are encouraged to contribute to breast health awareness by making a statement and wearing something PINK in the stands.

The women's volleyball team will host a Little East Conference tri-match at the Clark Athletic Center on the campus of UMass Boston, beginning with a match vs. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at 12 p.m. Plymouth State University is scheduled to take on UMass Dartmouth at 2 p.m. and UMass Boston will play Plymouth State at 4 p.m. to close out the day.

UMass Boston will wear pink socks and pink hair accessories to show support for the cause of fighting cancer. The game programs will be printed on pink paper and fans, coaches and administrators will be encouraged to wear pink attire as well. A 50/50 raffle will be held with all proceeds, in addition to donations, benefitting the Side-Out Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) located in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area as well as the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, located in Boston, Massachusetts. Supporters are also encouraged to show support through donations online.

The Side-Out Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) located in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. It has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Breast Cancer research nationally through volleyball tournaments, clinics, and rallies. Funds are currently devoted to targeted therapies and molecular profiling which is where there is a hot bed of research activity. Side-Out also devotes a portion of the funds to local and national "Life with Cancer" support organizations.

Their name underscores the purpose of the organization - "Side-Out" in volleyball occurs when one team wins a point while its opponent is serving, thereby regaining serve or control of play. Likewise in the war against breast cancer, the Side-Out Foundation will support health care professionals in their pursuit of practical solutions for women and men with this dreaded disease thus enabling those affected to regain control of their lives and living them to the fullest.