University celebrates 5th Annual Frogs for the Cure

Fort Worth, TX

11/9/2009

TCU will celebrate its 5th Annnual Frogs for the Cure event Saturday, Nov. 14 at the TCU vs. Utah football game. Through the annual event, a portion of t-shirt sales and ticket proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tarrant County.

Started in 2006, “Frogs for the Cure” was the first national event to combine football and support for breast cancer research. Ann Louden, TCU chair of the event, says proudly that “each year it has gotten bigger and bigger, not just with fund-raising proceeds, but with campus and community involvement. And it has not escaped notice, that TCU has won all four previous “Frogs for the Cure” games. And now the NFL teams, other colleges and universities and even NASCAR has gotten into the act of imitating TCU by linking their sports contests with Komen for the Cure initiatives."

Funds are raised through the sale of $12 t-shirts to be worn on game day, with $3 of each shirt sale going to Komen for the Cure. Shirts are available at TCU’s Barnes and Noble Bookstore and at the Spirit Shoppe at the Brown Lupton University Union. Shirts in children’s sizes have been extremely popular this year according to Llisa Lewis, bookstore manager. All football game tickets purchased online at www.gofrogs.com send $5 to the Komen coffers.

All week long, members of the Student Trainers Athletic Association have been flocking yards with pink flamingos to secure donations and build awareness about the TCU and Komen partnership. On campus, the Samuelson and Carter Residence Halls are hosting “Pink Out Bingo” on Wednesday, November 11 from 7-9 PM at which any student may pay to play. Breast cancer survivors Ann Louden and Amy Spence will speak. Members of Zeta Tau Alpha are sponsoring a contest with penny jars to be on display all week across the campus. On Friday, November 13, there will be a yogurt eating contest for faculty, staff and students to collect lids to be sent to Yoplait for a donation to Komen. And Potbelly Restaurant on South University Drive will donate a portion of their lunch proceeds from noon to 2PM on game day. Also on Friday, student Kathleen Perley from Houston, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor, has organized the a panel presentation on inflammatory breast cancer. She is bringing together a medical professional, a TCU nursing oncology professor, and a survivor to talk about this difficult version of breast cancer which often targets young people. Dorothy Patterson from the Komen National office will be in attendance. The event is from 3:00 – 4:30 in the Brown Lupton University Union.

“We are so proud of what TCU is doing to educate young women about this disease,” says Ann Greenhill, Executive Director of the Fort Worth Affiliate of Susan G.Komen for the Cure. “TCU has led the way in making “Frogs for the Cure” a signature event each year and we are so excited to be associated with the University’s work for such an important cause.”

Game day activities include not only the ESPN show, but also a student tailgate that features face painting, bandanna handout, music, pink food, and a banner to be signed in honor and in memory of breast cancer survivors. Over 700 breast cancer survivors will attend the Komen pre-game party in Frog Alley beginning at 4:30 PM.

And also in Frog Alley, game sponsor Baylor All Saints Medical Center will showcase information about the new Joan Katz Breast Center to open in spring 2010. Namesake Joan Katz will be on the field with hospital president Steve Newton for the opening of the game, along with Dick and Mary Lowe, donors to both the Breast Center and TCU athletics. Also being recognized during the game are the TCU’s Mountain West Conference champion 2009 Men’s Tennis team and the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl Football Team.

The halftime show at the game will salute representatives from more than 20 campus and community organizations who are supporting “Frogs for the Cure”. Carrying pink rally towels provided by Baylor All Saints Medical Center onto the field, more than 1000 people will participate in a pink balloon release accompanied by fireworks before the start of the game’s second half.

In December, after a determination is made of the dollars raised by “Frogs for the Cure”, TCU will host a luncheon for Komen officials and present the check in support of breast cancer research and programs. Over 45 people are serving on the “Frogs for the Cure” committee to make sure this effort is a success.

For more information, go to www.frogsforthecure.com or call 817-TCU-HOPE.