North Salinas honors loved one lost to breast cancer

For the last four years, North Salinas High School volleyball players swap their uniforms for pink ones. It’s called “Dig Pink,” an annual event during breast cancer awareness month.

But this year, the event hit home; the school just lost a loved one to the very disease they’re raising awareness about.

“In October, I just think we’re inundated with, not just the pink we see on the NFL, and everywhere else, but I think it becomes more personal when you have someone you know that’s been touched it,” North Salinas Athletic Director Jean Ashen said.

Exactly one week ago, former North Salinas faculty member Alma Pemberton died of breast cancer, during breast cancer awareness month.

“She was just really good at being there for the kids,” David Doris, a friend and history teacher, said. “She was there for everyone, just a good, good person to work with.”

Alma worked at North Salinas for seven years. She started out as the receptionist, and then became the career center technician.

This year’s “Dig Pink” was dedicated to her.

“Everyone is probably going to play hard for her,” senior volleyball player Cassie James said. “And we’re all going to try and raise as much money as we can, and we’re just going to leave everything on the court.”

The proceeds will benefit the Side-Out Foundation, which brings together volleyball players across the country to organize fundraisers like “Dig Pink” for research, medical services, and patient support.

The athletic department has also been educating students about the importance of annual checkups and other breast cancer prevention methods.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. And although it’s rare in men, the National Breast Cancer Foundation says an estimated 2,150 men will diagnosed with breast cancer each year.