For athletes like Dereck Lively II and Dwight Powell, sporting a pink sweatband or pair of bright pink sneakers on the basketball court means something.
It means something not just because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month but because they have each experienced the profound impact of a cancer diagnosis leading to the tragic loss of their mothers.
Through the immense hardship, however, both Lively and Powell have acted as passionate advocates for cancer awareness.
This October, the Mavericks players teamed up with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, named for Hall of Fame basketball coach Kay Yow, who faced a 22-year battle with breast cancer, to change the narrative around cancers affecting women by educating, empowering and equipping the next generation.