PULASKI, Tenn. – In what has become a yearly tradition, the Martin Methodist Women's Basketball team has dedicated time and resources off the court to help raise awareness for a situation or cause that impacts the rest of the community, the region and the world.
This season has been no different as the RedHawks have chosen to raise Alzheimer's awareness by partnering with the Pat Summitt Foundation and Alzheimer's Awareness foundations as part of the "We Back Pat" initiative.
During pre-game warmups this season for both home and away contests, the RedHawks have worn custom "We Back Pat" shirts to help raise awareness for the Foundation and Alzheimer's. Additionally, for all RedHawk home games, the RedHawks have set up an information station in the center of the Curry Christian Life Center lobby.
Finally, the team has sold the squad's "We Back Pat" warmup shirts in the lobby with proceeds directly benefiting the Pat Summitt Foundation.
"Pat Summitt is an icon in world of basketball," RedHawks head coach Jamy Bechler said. "It is not just because her teams dominated on the court, but because she is a person of high character. It was an honor for us to partner with the Pat Summitt Foundation to help raise money and awareness to fight this disease. In the past, I have worked at her camps, taken teams to watch the Lady Vols practice and seen her out recruiting and I can say that she is the real deal. She is truly a person that cares about others and has a great deal of integrity. It was a shock to everyone when she made her announcement because she appears to be larger than life at times. It seemed to be so unfair. However, she has handled the last two years with class and dignity. She has done so much to raise awareness and funding to fight a disease which affects so many."
And while many women's basketball programs across the country have partnered with the Pat Summitt Foundation over the last two seasons, the RedHawks partnership with the organization holds a special connection.
RedHawk junior forward Gloria Jeter, who joined the program this season, spoke about her link to the disease.
"Alzheimer's isn't something new, but like a lot of other illnesses or disease it takes someone more in the limelight to help it get the recognition it deserves. I personally am dealing with my Uncle and his battle with the disease, and I appreciate how (Summitt) has taken her disease and not made it a crutch but more of an inner strength. She is letting us know that either you can let it beat you or you be proactive and beat it."
In 2013, the RedHawks also partnered with a cause that hit close to home as the team supported Adoption Awareness by wearing customized "Superman Was Adopted" t-shirts.
Bechler and his wife, Tabitha, reached out to Bethany Christian Services to adopt the couple's first child, Jaylen.
For more information on this year's cause, the Pat Summitt Foundation, please visit the organization's official website at www.patsummitt.org.
The RedHawks will continue to sell their "We Back Pat" shirts in the Curry Christian Life Center lobby for their final three home games of the regular season.
The RedHawks host William Carey (Miss.) University in a Southern States Athletic Conference matchup Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5.
