Moravian University Women’s Basketball Leads Play4Kay Fundraiser, Celebrating Community and Purpose
BETHLEHEM, PA — The Moravian University women’s basketball team stands at the forefront of a movement that transcends sport and competition, raising awareness and support for cancer research through the annual Play4Kay campaign.
BETHLEHEM, PA — The Moravian University women's basketball team stands at the forefront of a movement that transcends sport and competition, raising awareness and support for cancer research through the annual Play4Kay campaign.
Play4Kay, the national grassroots fundraising initiative organized by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, unites communities across all 50 states to honor cancer survivors and raise money for life-saving research and programs that support underserved women.
As the national Play4Kay award-winning school for the 17th time, Moravian University proves its continued commitment to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund's mission and work through the Play4Kay initiative.
"We're honored to support the mission and work of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund," said head coach and athletic director Mary Beth Spirk in the national announcement. "Winning this award again reflects the unwavering commitment of our team, supporters, and the Moravian community."
Over the course of the last 17 years of competition, Moravian University has raised more than $253,420 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, with an additional $20,302 raised for the cause in 2025 alone.
"We fundraise a lot of money for it, and it's just to spread awareness and to help support the cause," said junior guard/forward Lizzie Lustig, one of the players interviewed, describing Play4Kay as Moravian's foundation for breast cancer awareness. Lustig's teammate, senior point guard Jaydalise Cartagena, echoed the sentiment that the event is much more than a game.
"It hits home for me personally," Cartagena said. "I lost my grandmother to cancer, and these events each year are another way to show support and reflect on loved ones."
Moravian's players also noted the impact of supporting their head coach through her recent cancer diagnosis and recovery, which has deepened the team's connection to the cause.
The annual "pink out" game fosters a distinctive atmosphere on and off the court. Players, coaches, and fans wear pink, a visual symbol of solidarity, but it's the meaning behind the color that truly drives the team forward, they said.
"It's not just wearing pink; it's understanding why we're doing it," Cartagena explained. "We each write down who we're playing for: family, friends, loved ones. That brings us closer together."
For the Moravian community, Play4Kay represents support, unity, and service, words echoed by players throughout the interview. Both athletes summarized the significance of the event in a single word: "community."
Play4Kay games have become among the most attended of the season for many schools nationwide, serving both as athletic competition and a celebration of courage, hope, and collective action.
As the Greyhounds prepare for their next Play4Kay game this Saturday, the legacy of their efforts continues to resonate not just in the record books, but in the hearts of those they honor and the lives they help change.
Story by Katherine Georgiou '27
