Breast cancer is a disease that affects nearly 200,000 people each year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

As a way to promote awareness and raise money for a cure, the WKU soccer team held “Kick 4 Pink Night” on Friday.

Admission was free, and donations were encouraged.    

Fans were given free ready-to-wear pink ribbons, and the Lady Toppers wore pink socks and hair ribbons.

Proceeds went to The Side-Out Foundation. 

Side-Out began in 2004 “to unite volleyball players and coaches and to have them work toward the common goal of furthering breast cancer awareness, education and patient services,” according to its website. 

The organization is “a support and advocacy organization dedicated to making a significant and identifiable difference in the lives of breast cancer patients and their families by supporting clinical trials, increasing compassionate support services and educating communities,” according to the website.

Kaylee Egerer, marketing assistant for WKU Athletic Marketing, said almost $350 was raised at the event, courtesy of the 268 in attendance.

The volleyball and women’s basketball teams will also hold breast cancer awareness nights during their respective seasons, Egerer said.

Junior goalkeeper Libby Stout said her best friend’s mother and grandmother have dealt with the disease, so she played for her friend.

 “I had her in the back of my mind, and it was something that kind of kept me going in that game,” Stout said.

She was able to record her 27th career shutout against Louisiana-Monroe on Friday in WKU’s 5-0 win.

Sophomore forward Laura Ray said she too has a friend whose mother battled breast cancer.

“The way things are, everybody’s been affected by it,” Ray said. “Being a part of it meant a lot to us.”

For junior midfielder Lindsay Williams, the awareness night was even more personal.

Both her grandmother and aunt have been diagnosed, with her aunt in a battle that’s been going on “pretty much since I’ve been alive,” she said.

Williams said it’s easy for people to forget what’s really important in life every so often, and events for a cause put everything in prospective.

“I always love it when we take the attention off of ourselves, and realize there’s more out there,” Williams said.