ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - For the sixth year, the sidelines at Northside High School were shades of pink on Monday night
Players, students, and fans will mark the annual Pinkout.
We caught up with two breast cancer survivors about why this event is so special.
Last year when we interviewed Melinda Freday about the Pinkout, she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She hadn't started treatment, but knew what lied ahead.
A year later, her name is again on the back of a jersey, but more importantly, she's cancer free.
"It's been hard, it's probably the hardest thing I've ever done, but also the most blessed I felt," Melinda said.
She describes all the women honored on the jerseys as sisters.
"I had no idea the fight that they had and now what a survivor means. It's a sisterhood now, I love these girls, it just brings together breast cancer survivors and families who unfortunately lost their loved ones. It's just a special game," Melinda explained.
Dawn Roberts has been to all six Pinkout games, but learned this year her neighbors sponsored a jersey with her name and their son Ethan would wear it.
"I don't like attention, so I was always there to support other people, but when Barbie said that Ethan was going to wear my jersey I told her, I don't think they realize how important that was to me. I didn't realize how much that meant either," said Dawn.
"We just wanted to make her feel special and let her know that we still cared," Ethan Blank said, Northside freshman.
Dawn is five years cancer free this month.
She said the Northside community's continued support truly makes a difference for each family represented on these jerseys.
"It's very important I think to the families, to the boys. They're very proud, you can tell, they're very proud to do this for the families they get to honor," Dawn explained.
It's easy to see a number and a name provide so much support.