Salisbury, N.C. ---- The Catawba College Athletic Department is proud to have taken its partnership with Novant Health to an even more impactful level. This summer, the healthcare non-profit agreed to be the benefactor of the breast cancer fundraising efforts of Catawba Women's Soccer and Women's Volleyball programs.

For Head Women's Soccer Coach, Nick Brown, and his family, breast cancer awareness month has extra meaning. Brown's wife, Julia, is a breast cancer survivor and her journey has inspired the team's annual breast cancer awareness game during the month of October. "I know how important it is to raise awareness and encourage women to advocate for themselves and their health," Julia said. "I'm here today because I had an amazing healthcare team. It means so much to me and my community for my husband to be able to raise awareness and funds each your through this dedication game."

Each year, a single home game in October highlights those who have survived or are currently fighting the disease and the team collects donations and sells game-worn pink jerseys from past seasons. With Novant now on board as a partner in this initiative, the goal is to take the fundraising and awareness up a notch."

"We know that nearly 1 in 8 women will be impacted by breast cancer in their lifetime, which means that nearly every person in attendance at this game will also be touched by the disease, whether by their own fight or by the journey of a woman they love," Gary Blabon, president and chief operating officer of Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, said. "The work of community partners like Catawba College to raise awareness and advocate for patients and survivors like Julia to bring stories and faces to these statistics is invaluable. Novant Heath will always be ready to provide not just remarkable care to the women and men affected by breast cancer, but to their caregivers and loved ones as well."

This year, the Catawba Women's Soccer Breast Cancer Awareness game will be played on Saturday, October 4th at 3:30 p.m. at the Frock Soccer Complex. Catawba Women's Volleyball will host their awareness match on October 21st at 6:00 p.m. inside Goodman Arena. See below for a donation link and be sure to come support Catawba Athletics on these special nights.