University of Kansas Cheerleaders

Rivalry just isn’t an issue when it comes to acting on a good cause! On October 30-31, the cheerleaders from the University of Kansas and Kansas State University will put aside their differences and work as a team to raise money for cancer by cheering at a local charity women’s basketball game and hosting a cheerleading clinic.

“This event will bring everyone together. It does not matter if someone is a Wildcat fan or a Jay Hawk fan. When it comes to this disease, everyone is on the same page - no matter what the outcome of the score is,” says senior, Becky Brennan, from the Kansas State cheer team. 

This past spring, Ashland Health Center in Ashland, Comanche County Hospital in Coldwater and five rural communities in the state of Kansas agreed to team up to fundraise for breast cancer research. Wilmore, Englewood, Protection, Ashland, and Coldwater are the communities that form the WEPAC Alliance, a non-profit organization with the mission of providing funds and education to women in these towns to take responsibility for their health. 

WEPAC recently joined with the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund for the WEPAC Hoops for Hope event. Founded by former North Carolina women’s basketball coach, Kay Yow, this organization is focused on finding a cure for women’s cancer, and the philanthropy project has really taken off.

Both groups of college cheerleaders feel passionate about being part of such a huge project.

Becky explains, “This is a great opportunity not just for the two cheer teams involved but for the entire state of Kansas. The excitement to cheer for this event that will help so many people is one that we cannot put into words. Cancer has touched everyone’s life in some way shape or form. This is just one way we can help those in need from this disease.”

Kansas State Cheerleaders

For small towns in Kansas, this event will be huge. Each team participating in the game will include six local girls and nine celebrity coaches and players. Both the Ashland and Coldwater communities are getting involved as well, whether by attending the game or purchasing t-shirts (pink shirts for Ashland fans and white with pink shirts for Coldwater fans) with all proceeds going to the charity. Brenda Big XII women’s basketball sports commentators, Brenda VanLengen and Patti Phillips, volunteered to cover the game, and Fox Sports Midwest has agreed to televise the event live across Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska with a press conference immediately following the game.  

The actual game is not the only event the KU and K-State cheerleaders will be involved in. Before the game begins, a practice session will be held in Coldwater featuring the WEPAC Slam team, free-throw contests, three-point contests, and more games and activities for fans and participants. After the practice session, the cheerleaders will head to Ashland for a college-style tailgate with tents, food and radio remotes. There will be plenty of giveaways, contests, games, and free tickets for attendees. The following day, both cheerleading squads will host a clinic for youngsters together. 

The game and event festivities will take place on Friday, October 30, and the cheerleading clinic will be held Saturday, October 31. For more information on Hoops for Hope, go to http://www.wepackthehouse.org/. To learn more about the WEPAC Alliance, visit www.wepacalliance.org.

Both Kansas State and the University of Kansas cheerleaders are hoping this is not the last time they participate in this event. They have plans to volunteer with Hoops for Hope from here out. Becky says, ““We are proud to be a part of the first year of this event and look forward to many more years in helping this event grow for the state of Kansas!”