Last year, volleyball coaches Julie Detjen of Minnesota Valley Lutheran and Stef Dietz of New Ulm Cathedral started something in south central Minnesota. This year, their efforts have been multiplied many times over.

Detjen and Dietz decided in July of 2008 to initiate fundraising efforts for breast cancer as part of the national Dig Pink campaign. After informing the rest of the Tomahawk Conference of their intentions, the duo set about ordering pink t-shirts, setting up silent auctions and coordinating other fundraising efforts to help battle the deadly disease in conjunction with the volleyball match pitting the two teams against each other.

“The conference wanted us to report back to them after last season to see how it went,” Detjen said. “The players and students and communities really embraced the cause and we raised about $2,800.”

The other schools in the Tomahawk were obviously impressed as the coaches voted to adopt the program as a conference for 2009. On Tuesday, Sleepy Eye hosted Wabasso, St. Mary’s hosted GFW and Buffalo Lake-Hector hosted Cedar Mountain-Comfrey in “Dig Pink” events.

The rest of the Tomahawk schools will be holding similar events either tonight or on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The goal is to raise $10,000 as a conference.

“This thing has really taken off,” Detjen said. “It’s kind of taking on a life of its own.”

Detjen, who had been involved in similar fundraising programs while coaching in Wisconsin, says nearly every family has been personally affected by cancer in one way or another. She believes that’s why Dig Pink is being embraced by a lot of people.

Detjen herself has a sister who was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 1998.

“Since finishing her treatments in 1999 she has been cancer free,” Detjen said. “She’s a survivor. If we can raise awareness through a program like this, we can get a lot more survivors, too.”

During Monday’s NFL football game between the Packers and Vikings, numerous players, coaches and officials wore pink shoes, hats, wrist bands and used pink towels throughout the game. Detjen says that kind of publicity is priceless.

“Pink may not be considered a very masculine color but, when young boys and men see NFL players out there wearing pink, that takes that stigma away,” Detjen said. “They realize there must be something serious going on.”

This year the Dig Pink cause has spread even beyond the Tomahawk Conference. On Monday, Oct. 19, Truman and Martin Luther will stage a Valley Conference contest billed as a Dig Pink Rally Teal match.

The players will be wearing pink and teal to raise funds and awareness for the treatment of both breast cancer and ovarian cancer. A silent auction is part of the event.

“I’m just thrilled that so many schools are involved this year,” said Detjen. “It’s stressful to get everything organized but, when you realize where the money is going and the awareness that’s being created, it’s worth it.”