Dig Pink 2024 Recap: Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

Bear Creek held its sixteenth annual Dig Pink event on October 4, 2024, in a packed gym full of fans wearing pink in support of breast cancer awareness and the Side-Out Foundation. The evening was a big success as the Grizzlies won in three sets (25-15, 25-17, 25-17) in front of their wildly supportive fans. It was a success in many other ways as Overlake brought four teams (Middle School, JV-C, JV, and varsity) and showed up in pink to join us for an important and worthwhile cause. In the end, nearly $2,700 was raised through T-shirt sales, concessions, and tickets sold at the gate. 

But Dig Pink has never been solely about raising money. Sixteen years ago, The Bear Creek School and Christian Faith School started a tradition. The annual event was a way for our communities to come together for something more important than winning and losing volleyball games. Cancer is something that impacts all of us in one way or another. It touches every community, nearly every family, and leaves a wake of devastation in its path. Over these 16 years, amazing traditions have been formed as communities have gathered in support of this one cause. And special moments have happened along the way.

Live on purpose. No regrets. This slogan has made an appearance on Bear Creek’s Dig Pink T-shirts every October since 2012, even though most families currently attending Bear Creek will not know or remember the story. In the fall of 2012, two Christian Faith students tragically passed away in a hiking accident just prior to our annual Dig Pink event. As you can imagine, it was a painful and heartbreaking experience for the Christian Faith community. And in the wake of that tragedy, coming together in October to celebrate Dig Pink seemed difficult.

What resulted was the phrase that so many of you now see on your Dig Pink T-shirts. Live on purpose. No regrets. It had a specific meaning twelve years ago for the families who were directly touched and impacted by the events that fall. But of course, it has a much bigger meaning. It applies not only to those impacted by a tragedy, and cancer but to all of us in all areas of our lives. Do we live our lives on purpose with zeal, intentionality, kindness, and joy, with no regrets?

In a moment of self-reflection, I think all of us know that life can get in the way at times, and sometimes we struggle to make the most out of special moments we spend with our family and friends. And so, there it is—a mantra born out of tragedy. An event every October in the Bear Creek gym at which we wear pink, raise a little money, and come along in support of those whose lives have been turned upside down by the havoc wreaked by cancer. And there it is on our T-shirts. Live on purpose. No regrets. A beautiful reminder for us all.

Dig Pink 2024 was a wonderful night in so many ways. We are thankful to everyone who helped us make it special, including Overlake. We are thankful for the money and awareness raised. We are also thankful for all of you in our Bear Creek community for your willingness to be Grizzlies together. Live on purpose. No regrets. Always.