Gymnasts Join Fight Against Breast Cancer

Throughout February, the women's gymnastics team at Southeast Missouri State University will join the volleyball team's fight against breast cancer with the Flips for Life campaign. An extension of Dig for Life, the gymnasts will use their sport to raise funds to provide free mammograms for local women who could not otherwise afford them.

The athletes will be raising funds through pledges during home meets and online at www.digforlife.com. The next meet is Friday, February 11 at 7 pm in Houck Field House, where the Redhawks will take on Illinois State University for Pink Out Night.

When breast cancer claimed her mother's life in 2000, former Southeast women's volleyball coach Cindy Gannon founded Dig for Life to help other women fight this disease. The Dig for Life program provides more than 200 free mammograms annually to patients at Saint Francis Medical Center and Poplar Bluff Medical Partners. Each $100 raised provided the crucial screening to one local woman at no cost to her.

The university's Athletic Department continues to embrace the Dig for Life campaign and other sports will be joining the volleyball team's efforts during their respective seasons, including gymnastics, softball and baseball.

For more information or to donate, please call the Saint Francis Foundation at 573-331-5790.