Bobcat fans encouraged to wear pink at Nov. 2 game for ‘Pack the Place in Pink’ event

BOZEMAN — Montana State University and Bobcat Athletics invite Bobcat fans to participate in the second annual “Pack the Place in Pink” event at the Nov. 2 Bobcat football game to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for a nonprofit.

To participate, individuals are invited to purchase a limited edition apparel item and wear it to the game versus Southern Utah. This year, the items for purchase and their suggested retail prices include a pink, short-sleeve shirt for $15; a gray, long-sleeve performance shirt for $20; a microfleece pullover for $50 and two styles of beanie hats costing $16 to $18.

In addition, local businesses are encouraged to decorate their windows in pink during the week leading up to the football game to show support for breast cancer awareness.

For each item sold, participating retailers will donate a portion of the sale to Pack the Place in Pink, a Billings-based nonprofit that was founded in 2007 by Vicki Heebner Carle, an MSU alumna, teacher and volleyball coach at Skyview High School in Billings. Carle was a standout basketball player for Montana State in the 1980s and was inducted into the Bobcat Hall of Fame in 1996. Carle, herself, battled breast cancer two times, in 2003 and 2010; it is now in remission.

Pack the Place in Pink gained nonprofit status in 2013. Funds raised go directly to breast cancer patients in Montana, Carle said.

"We are honored and blessed to have Montana State University support our organization,” Carle said. “Each year, there are more women seeking assistance from (Pack the Place in Pink), and the support from MSU will help us meet those requests. Being born and raised a Bobcat and partnering with MSU makes me so very, very proud to be a part of Montana State University. Together, we are making a positive impact on many Montana women and their families.”

Pack the Place in Pink Bobcat merchandise is available at the MSU Bookstore in the Strand Union Building and at Bobcat Stadium, as well as online at msubookstore.org. Merchandise is also available at Universal Athletic locations in Bozeman, Billings, Butte, Helena, Great Falls and Kalispell and online at universalathletic.com.