Lakeland/Panas ‘Dig Pink’ Game Brought in $2000 for Breast Cancer Research (VIDEO)

The Lakeland/Panas ‘Dig Pink’ game last night ended quickly with Panas’ 3-0 sweep, but both teams had something to be happy about. They raised about $2,000 for the Side-out Foundation, a breast cancer awareness and education organization.

“Side-out is a national organization so we thought the best way to control where the money would go to was to put it towards a good cause,” said Walter Panas Varsity Coach Joe Felipe at the game. This is the second year the teams have participated in the nation-wide volleyball breast cancer fundraiser.

“For me as a coach its not that I have such great players but I have really great kids and part of that is teaching them more than just volleyball. To show them the fact that they can play on team and can use that as awareness to raise money for cause.”

The girls took the fundraising seriously but had fun with it. They made and sold special pink t-shirts that read “Volley for the cure,” advertised the event and played a good game.  

Parents also helped out, running the concession stand, spreading the word and collecting entrance donations.

The event also featured a silent auction with some hot ticket items like great seats to a Giants game, a Kindle donated by GE, and other fun prizes.

During the game, Panas sisters Vivian Burcescu and Brigitte Burcescu led the Panther’s to victory with Vivian’s13 kills and Brigitte’s 21 assists and 6 aces. Ali Patriciello also had seven digs.

The schools’ field hockey teams held the same kind of event on Tuesday night and wore pink shirts as well.

“I’m happy to see so many sports, pro teams, high school teams are doing it,” said Felipe. “ It is a good thing for great cause and the girls care about it – its fun for them.”

If you would still like to donate to "Dig Pink" you can send a check to: Panas Volleyball Booster Club c/o Joe Felipe Lakeland High School 1349 East Main St. Shrub Oak, NY 10588.