The Brock women\u2019s basketball team is taking on a formidable opponent in their next game: breast cancer.<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s 17th annual Shoot for the Cure game, which takes place in the Bob Davis Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 20., aims to raise money for and awareness of breast cancer research.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaising money for this cause is especially important to me because of how many women in my family have been affected and continue to be affected by breast cancer,\u201d said forward Olivia Fiorucci, a third-year Kinesiology student from Hamilton.<\/p>\n
Breast cancer has cast its shadow across multiple generations of Fiorucci’s family. Several maternal and paternal aunts have beaten the disease and Fiorucci’s 39-year-old cousin, Alexandra Salerno, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is currently undergoing chemotherapy. It\u2019s been a difficult time for our family, but we\u2019ve all come together to support her on her journey,\u201d she said. \u201cI am proud of her for being so positive and resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shortly after learning the news of her cousin, Fiorucci purchased a pair of Nike Zoom KD 3 Aunt Pearl\u2019s, a pair of shoes with a special all-pink design to honour NBA player Kevin Durant\u2019s family member who passed away from cancer.<\/p>\n
The insoles are inscribed with a message that Fiorucci identifies with: \u201cIn memory of Aunt Pearl who inspired us all to continue the fight for a cure. The KD16 honours women in sport who have fought the fight against cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fiorucci feels she is wearing the courage of her family when she laces up her shoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sport of basketball became different for me. It\u2019s a place where resilience isn\u2019t just measured in points,\u201d said Fiorucci. \u201cIt\u2019s helped to provide me strength to confront life\u2019s toughest battles on or off the court.\u201d<\/p>\n
In partnership with other U SPORTS women’s basketball programs across Canada, the Badgers are raising funds to help reach the total campaign fundraising goal of $100,000 through virtual and in-person events from Wednesday, Jan. 17 to Sunday, Jan. 28.<\/p>\n