‘Pink Out’ hits close
to home for the Floras
Written: Oct 30, 2009
  By TODD KRISE
t_krise@ncnewsonline.com
Lucille Flora’s kitchen is open.
Twenty-five years ago, it seemed that it might close forever.
Lucille, the mother of New Castle High athletic director Sam Flora, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984.
A lumpectomy and 38 radiation treatments later, Lucille, who will turn 80 in January, still is cooking her Sunday Italian dinner for the entire Flora family.
“She had a rough go with it,” Sam said. “But we have a lot of faith in God. We put it in his hands and it worked out.”
So if you see Sam at Mohawk tonight wearing pink wristbands with Lucille’s name printed on them, you’ll know exactly why.
New Castle and Mohawk are among the 73 WPIAL schools that will sport pink ribbon stickers on their helmets this weekend in celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Laurel, Neshannock, Shenango and Union will be participating in “Pink Out” games as well.
The ’Canes also will wear pink wristbands that were donated by a local sporting goods store.
The idea is not a copycat version of the National Football League’s Breast Cancer Awareness games that ran from Oct. 5-27.
Tonight’s promotion originated in the mind of Mt. Lebanon High senior cheerleader Ellese Meyer, whose mother, Terri Alvino-Meyer, died of breast cancer in June.
Ellese Meyer asked Mt. Lebanon athletic director John Grogan if the school could sponsor a one-night affair for breast cancer awareness.
Grogan went beyond Meyer’s request and e-mailed schools in western Pennsylvania. More than 50 percent of WPIAL-member schools have responded with a yes.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Union athletic director Bob Natale said. “There’s people that have a whole lot more on their mind than who’s going to win a football game.”
Natale received Grogan’s e-mail earlier this week and immediately called Mt. Lebanon, which is in charge of distributing the stickers. Natale also spread the word to fellow Big Seven Conference schools.
“Anytime you can get community support for different causes, it’s very important,” Laurel athletic director Mike Tinstman said. “Anytime you can be supportive of these issues is great for society in general.”
During tonight’s Union-Neshannock matchup, cheerleaders from both schools will be collecting money for the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Foundation in the Pittsburgh suburb of Venetia.
Terri Alvino-Meyer was a dedicated volunteer for the foundation, which was founded by Jennifer Kehm in 2005. Kehm said schools are welcome to raise money for the foundation, but are not required.
“We’ve done events with her mom and just want to make a difference,” Kehm said of Ellese Meyer. “The next thing you know, it’s larger than life.”
The Young Women’s Breast Cancer Foundation holds a charity fashion show every year to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The foundation also has a partnership with Panera restaurants, home of the “pink-ribbon bagel.”
Proceeds are donated to the foundation and help support the Women’s Breast Cancer Program at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.
More help means more Sunday meals for families like the Floras.
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