Neillsville volleyball team to hold first-ever ‘Pink Out’ night for local resident with breast cancer

October is widely known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and on Oct. 3, the Neillsville volleyball team will be holding their first-ever “Pink Out” night during their games against Owen-Withee to raise money in support of a Granton resident who is currently battling breast cancer.

The event is something Neillsville volleyball coach Chelsea Opelt said the team felt would be important to do.

“The team decided to do this event this year because many individuals in our community fight cancer,” she said. “Doing a Pink Out night during the month of October gives the team the opportunity to raise money to help with the financial costs for someone battling cancer.”

The proceeds raised from the Oct. 3 event will go to Brenda Schlinsog of Granton and her family. Brenda was diagnosed with Stage 4 triple negative breast cancer on Oct. 6 last year and has spent the past year undergoing treatments.

“You first have to mentally prepare yourself because life will never be the same,” said Brenda about her diagnosis. “There’s been a lot of pain and sadness that goes along with being diagnosed with breast cancer. There’s treatment plans you need to follow, but there’s also an outpouring of people who want to help you out in one way or another.”

Brenda said when she had heard about the volleyball team’s efforts to raise money for her cancer treatments, she and her family were very surprised.

“We were very humbled that they would pick me and my family to support through this cause,” she said. “I really admire these young girls and am glad to see that they are getting the chance to explore what breast cancer is and how they can help other people who end up getting cancer.”

As part of the event — which will start at 5:30 p.m. before the girls JV and C-team games on Oct. 3 —the volleyball team and their families put together a cookie sale and raffles that they will run throughout the night. The events will continue on through the games and conclude after the girls varsity game at 7:15 p.m.

“The night will include raffle baskets, cookies sales and minute-to-win-it 50/50 raffles,” said Opelt. “Brittany Lowry and Michelle Grap, parents of two of the volleyball players, have given their time to organize and set up the event. The players will be helping sell cookies and raffle tickets.”

Opelt said the team is hopeful that a lot of people come to the games in support of Brenda and her family and that the fundraiser is successful.

In addition to the Pink Out night, there will be a second fundraiser for Brenda at the Neillsville Country Club on Oct. 26. The event will include a four-person golf outing, a basket/item raffle, 50/50 raffle and a bake sale all starting at 1 p.m. Teams for the golf scramble are asked to pre-register by texting or calling 715-613-1911 and the event will run through the evening.

Brenda Schlinsog stands in front of a pair of pink chrysanthemums that she and her husband sell each October at Turnpike Greenhouse in Granton for breast cancer awareness. Brenda was diagnosed with Stage 4 triple negative breast cancer last October and has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy as part of her treatment. The Neillsville volleyball team will be holding a benefit for her this Thursday, Oct. 3, during their volleyball game against Owen-Withee to raise funds for her ongoing treatments.

CHEYENNE THOMAS/STAFF PHOTO