Bob Motzko ’89 is really busy in October. But, not too busy to help others.
He’s coaching his nationally ranked men’s Huskies Hockey team in five games against teams from the nation’s leading conferences.
He’s also fundraising for breast cancer research and programs in his role as a Real Men Wear Pink ambassador for the American Cancer Society.
Motzko is hosting Kicking Cancer’s Ice 6-8 p.m. Oct. 11 at Brothers Bar & Grill in downtown St. Cloud. Ten percent of Brothers’ sales, throughout the day, will go to fund breast cancer research and programs. The evening event will include live music and a silent auction.
Real Men Wear Pink is an off-shoot of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraising walk, which is Oct. 14 at St. Cloud State. Last year, the walk raised $106,000 and Real Men Wear Pink earned $18,500.
Motzko’s Real Men Wear Pink fundraising goal is $5,000, but he’s told Making Strides organizers he aims to raise much more.
At the Oct. 14 men’s hockey game against University of Alaska Fairbanks, Motzko’s players will wear pink jerseys bearing the American Cancer Society logo, the Real Men Wear Pink logo and the Making Strides logo. Motzko will wear a pink sport coat.
Throughout the game fans can offer silent bids on the pink jerseys. Players will hand winning bidders their jerseys at game’s end. Proceeds beyond the cost of the jerseys will count toward Motzko’s Real Men Wear Pink effort.
Through December, all the fundraising streams combine for a singular purpose, according to Kim Orn ’89, senior community engagement manager for American Cancer Society in St. Cloud.
“We are funding a lot of the start-up research grantees across the country,” Orn said in an Oct. 5 interview on AM 1240 WJON. “Here in Minnesota we have two sites: The University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic.”
Said Orn: “Research is key. It is critical.”
Nationally, breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women.
The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about one in eight.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, accounting for 29 percent of newly diagnosed cancers.
Listen to the Oct. 5 interview featuring WJON announcer Jay Caldwell ’98 talking with Motzko, Orn and cancer survivor Jerry Carlson ’78:
