Yow Fought The Good Fight, Now It's Our Turn

by Cory Lavalette on Jan 25, 2009 1:18 PM EST

NC State, women's basketball, the Triangle, the sports world — hell, the entire world — lost one of its most inspirational and important people yesterday. Kay Yow, 66, the long-time head coach of the Wolfpack women's basketball team, succumbed yesterday after more than 20 years battling breast cancer.

I could go on and on about Yow: the stories I've heard, the admiration I — and many — have for the way she carried herself while publicly battling cancer, a dreadful disease that finds a way to touch everyone. I could also list her professional accomplishments, which include a place in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. — just two cities away from where I grew up. The News & Observer does this at length, and I'll let everyone read the words spoken by those who knew Yow personally and had their lives directly impacted by her compassion, dedication and good nature.

I never got to meet Yow. In fact, I never even attended an NC State women's basketball game at Reynolds Coliseum. I'll admit it — I haven't watched much women's basketball. In fact, the only time I really made an effort to sit down and watch it was because of Yow. During the 2006-07 season, Yow missed two months to battle a recurrence of her cancer. But she returned and led the Pack to the ACC Tournament title game — knocking off highly ranked rivals Duke and UNC along the way — and then the third round of the NCAA Tournament. It was an inspirational run, one that captured the attention of the entire nation. It definitely opened my eyes to the other side of Yow: not only was this woman inconceivably strong in the face of cancer, but she was a damn good coach.

This brings me back to exchange Bubba and I had just a few days back. I asked him what he thought about me using the site to try and raise money for childhood cancer research through the St. Baldrick's Foundation. Hurricanes fans may recall several players (Cam Ward, Nic Wallin, Dennis Seidenberg and broadcaster Tripp Tracy to name a few) shaving their heads to raise money for this worthy cause. Bubba, of course, thought it would be a great idea (he seemed especially supportive when he found out it would be my hair coming off. ... I'm kidding).

I was pondering going through with it the past couple days, but the news of Yow's death confirmed that this was something I needed to do. So March 7, 2009, at Hibernian Irish Pub & Restaurant in Cary, N.C., I'll be sitting down and losing my slowly-turning-gray locks for a good cause. I've set my goal at $500 and am hoping all our friends here at Canes Country can be part of trying to put an end to childhood cancer. I've started off by giving $25 — and my hair. I'll have more information on this in the next week or so — you can attend and watch my hair come off if you want — but I hope some of you can give a little, too.

Kay fought this fight for a long time. Now it's our turn.

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Great piece. Coach Yow was an amazing person. Thank you for doing this.

by packpigskinfan25 on Jan 25, 2009 3:27 PM EST reply actions

Even as a die hard Tar Heel all the way in Nevada, I was touched by coach Yow in recent years as you and many others were. The impact was personal for me as my mother nearly succumbed to breast cancer in 2002, where I personally saw how truly horrific the fight is, yet at the same time saw how the human spirit can break through in dire times.
I would love to say I am going to donate, but honestly, I cannot due to financial difficulties in my senior year of college. However, I do try my best to put in an effort. A few years back, before I realized that my fabulously ironic genes were thinning my hair, I donated my somewhat rebellious mane to Locks of Love. I give blood or platelets every three or four months, and encourage others to do so. Likely because of my mother’s fight and the fear that her cancer will reoccur (and a longstanding curiosity since childhood), I am trying my best to get into graduate school so I can research or even assist other researchers in the medical field.
Only through freedom to research (which in my opinion would be a complete release of the restriction on stem cell research, but that is a whole political debate not needed here), outstanding determination, patience, and lots of compassion will this horrific disease be eradicated. It may not be in five, ten, or even in my lifetime, but when that day comes, it will be a monumental triumph of the human race.
Cory, I know this may not mean much coming from a reader yet seemingly random Canes fan, but I thank you for your contributions to the community and the effort in spreading the good word.

by Mojo on Jan 25, 2009 5:08 PM EST reply actions

Great idea Cory. We will be supporting you all the way.

by Bubba on Jan 25, 2009 7:08 PM EST reply actions

Hey Cory, Great idea! I was thinking of getting involved in that too, but I’m not exactly ready to shave my head. I do have 10+ inches of hair to donate to locks of love and I sent an email to the canes community relations department about it – I was thinking it would be nice to combine a locks of love type event with the St. Baldricks day event. I never heard back from them… If you happen to be in touch with them would you consider running the idea by them?

by Andrea on Jan 25, 2009 9:43 PM EST reply actions

Great idea Cory. I would think that there are enough people on this site willing to doante money to get you to the $500 level. Kay Yow was an inspiration to so many. It is so strange that two of the most influential cancer fighters in the sports world both coached at NCSU. We could all do more to support the fight for cancer and we should start now.

by grasshopper on Jan 26, 2009 8:23 PM EST reply actions

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. I hope we can make a difference.

Andrea … I don’t know that the team (or the two charities) want to mingle … but if I hear anything about them having plans to do St. Baldrick’s again, I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.

by Cory on Jan 26, 2009 9:18 PM EST reply actions