Cap Volleyball Team Sports Pink to Help Beat Breast Cancer

For its last two games of the month, the volleyball team at has turned in its regular school jerseys for pink jerseys in support of their efforts to raise awareness about breast cancer.

The effort is part of Dig Pink, which is the Side Out Foundation's fundraising arm that raises money for medical research organizations and other entities supporting breast cancer patients and their families.

This is the fourth year the team has been wearing pink jerseys in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, said head coach Nilo Mauricio.

Mauricio said a lot of high school and club volleyball teams are starting to join the Dig Pink effort, and he hopes the campaign helps his players become more aware and spread the message to their friends and families.

"They should be more aware," Mauricio said, "especially because this is a team of all women."

For Lauren Formalejo, 16, sporting a pink jersey for a game means a lot because her mother, Deanna Formalejo, is a breast cancer survivor. Deanna was diagnosed in March 2009 and underwent six months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and radiation, and she has been in remission since 2010.

"This game means so much to me," Lauren said about her passion for volleyball. "My mom is a breast cancer survivor...and is now cancer free. I dedicate every dig to her."