Nick Perry, CFNN Reporter

Cumberland County Schools has a rich history of healthy competition and winning athletic programs. We also support efforts that affect our community, on and off the courts and fields. 

In true Cape Fear community spirit, our Cape Fear Colts continue to support important issues that affect our community. 

Throughout January and February, Cumberland County Schools’ basketball teams, including Cape Fear High School, will compete in basketball games to support the Kay Yow Foundation.

The purpose of this foundation is to raise and donate money to support the non-profit organization to fight cancer. 

Kay Yow was the women’s basketball coach for NC State from 1975 to 2009. She was diagnosed with breast cancer on August 5, 1987, and fought it on and off the court for 22 years, but sadly passed away in 2009. 

Kay Yow cheers on her
basketball players.

Kay Yow inspired and made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. She had 700 career wins, 11 trips to the Sweet 16, and went to the elite 8 and to the final four in 1998. 

The Kay Yow foundation was founded in 2007 to conduct scientific research for the fight against all cancers affecting women. The mission of the foundation is to raise money for enhancing drugs and clinical studies to fight cancer. 

As part of Kay’s goals, local events, such as the Play4Kay tournament were instituted. The Play4Kay tournament encourages teams and coaches to play, and enjoy the game of basketball not so much for the purpose of competing against each other, but for working towards the same goal of supporting efforts to fight cancer. 

Her vision was for a nation of coaches to unite and support this effort. According to the Play4Kay website, “Yow’s goal for Play4Kay events was to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in its support of advanced research and to serve the underserved.”

Senior Marquail James is a four year veteran here at Cape Fear and has been the starting point guard for three. He said, “Cancer can take away a person’s physical ability but it cannot take a person’s heart, mind, or soul.

Coach Kee, the men’s basketball head coach, says, “To showcase an event for this cause that has hurt so many is great and we hope to raise money for this foundation.”

In support of the Kay Yow foundation, and the fight against cancer, our own Cape Fear Colts will host the Douglas Byrd Eagles on January 31st, 2019, which will contribute towards our effort to support the Kay Yow foundation. 

Come out and support the Cape Fear Colts as well as the Play4Kay efforts to fight cancer so we can do this together! The Cape Fear Colts’ basketball teams are proud to support this effort! While we always strive to win in athletic competitions, to support this effort means much more.