Alma College women’s basketball coach Keisha Brown, is very excited for this week, as her team has their first game of the year tonight, and on Saturday, she is hosting a fundraiser that will help children whose parents died from cancer.
Brown, who scheduled her gall bladder surgery last week around basketball practice, “loves to dance and loves to get dressed up,” and she named the event, “A Pink Carpet Affair,” which will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Bucks Run Golf Course, 1559 S. Chippewa Road.
“I chose pink because of my breast cancer,” said Brown who was diagnosed in 2007. “I want people to come out in their finest duds and best dancing shoes.
“I plan to be dancing for two and a half hours.”
Tickets are $65 per person with $30 going to “Angel Wings,” a scholarship that is “part of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation” that will help begin an education fund for children who have lost their parents to cancer and for cancer education.
“It’s for schools to apply for educational support,” said Brown. “If they want to bring in a speaker, they can go to Angel Wings for help.”
Brown said she named the fund after her daughter, Angel, and started it for others because of all the support she received during her cancer experience.
“I had my share of the whole cancer experience,” said Brown. “But we were fortunate enough to have people to take care of Angel.
“But some people have no one and no resources. With the way today’s economy is, education (for their children) is a huge thing parents worry about.”
The event will feature guest speaker, Dr. George Ross, the president of Central Michigan University, who Brown considers one of her mentors. Ross was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007.
“I knew (Ross) prior to all of it,” said Brown. “He opened my eyes.
“I have the upmost respect for him, and for his wife (Elizabeth). She is amazing.”
The event will feature raffle drawings for items that include an autographed jersey of Mo Williams of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a Detroit Tigers gift basket, and gift certificates for Coco Joe’s, Ace of Diamonds, and an autographed football from Michigan State.
“Cancer is such an ugly thing rearing its ugly head,” said Brown. “When people hear it, they’re afraid.
“But for one day of the year, lets get all dolled up and just live, and have no worries.”
For ticket information, e-mail angelwingsfund@gmail.com or call 989-775-6992.
(This article was written by Patricia Ecker and was originally found here: http://www.themorningsun.com/20101116/a-pink-carpet-affair)
