Dig Pink Event Honors All Massapequans Touched by Cancer

It was a sea of pink and an impressive show of strength in the fight against breast cancer and other forms of the disease.

The event was the annual “Dig Pink” match, a fundraiser by members of Massapequa High School’s girls Volleyball teams.

The JV and Varsity played before a packed gym full of fans dressed in pink. Many held up signs with the names of friends or relatives who’ve been touched by the disease.

“Tonight we’d like to take this opportunity to recognize and honor those who have gone before us, those who have fought the disease,” girls varsity volleyball coach Carol Ann Habeeb-Kiel said in a pre-game ceremony.

“It’s up to all of us here to stand up to cancer. In the United States one in two men and one in three women will now be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. Together we can change those odds.”

A lot of hard work went into trying to make that change. Local merchants donated gift baskets for raffles. Volunteers manned tables selling cotton candy, baked goods and clothing. Donors could also buy signs, and put their loved ones’ names on them.

Michele Koetzner, whose daughter Michaela, plays on the JV helped out at the bake sale.

“She’s been waiting to participate,” Koetzner said. “We’ve been coming every year. We lost my dad to cancer.”

Michaela, who was part of the JV’s 25-13, 25-14, 19-25, 25-13 win over Syosset said “I’m grateful to be able to honor my grandfather in this tournament.”

There was a great show both on and off the court as the Varsity also won their match 25-13, 25-18, 25-9 to raise their record to a perfect 8-0. Massapequa wore pink jerseys in both games, while Syosset took the court wearing pink socks.

Between games, fans were entertained by the Massapequa cheerleaders and Chiefettes.  

“I’m really proud of Coach Habeeb and the girl’s volleyball program,” Massapequa Athletic director John Piropato said. “It gets bigger and better each year.”

It’s the fourth year in a row that Massapequa has participated in the breast cancer awareness program, but it became close to Coach Habeeb-Kiel’s heart after the first year.

“My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in the second year,” she said. 

In previous years, survivors had been honored at the event, but there are so many people in Massapequa who’ve been touched by the disease, she wanted to honor as many as possible, so she proposed having the names written on signs, which will also be displayed at the school.

As for her mom, Habeeb-Kiel said, “She’s fine, she’s cancer free. She hasn’t missed a game in 24 years.”