At Bel Air High School there is a “Dig Pink” tradition that was started in 2010 by the Markland family when coach Tim Markland and his wife Amy Markland brought the Dig Pink campaign to Bel Air High School.
Dig Pink is a national event coordinated by the Side-Out non-profit group, dedicated to connecting volleyball with a mission to revolutionize cancer care.
The Dig Pink national movement had started just 2 years prior. Since their start in 2010 the Bel Air school community has hosted 12 Dig Pink events (and 10 consecutive including an offsite event during COVID when there was no fall season in Harford County). Bel Air has been recognized by the Side-Out Foundation for their consistent giving over the years raising over $65,000.
This year the program is preparing for the 13th Dig Pink campaign since its start 15 years ago. The team will host Rising Sun on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at Bel Air High School where fans will be decked out in pink. Special events will be held leading up to the night of the match and on the night of the game to raise funds for those with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
A year ago, Sarah Markland, an alumni of Bel Air and the Girls’ Volleyball Program, rejoined the team as a coach and was heavily involved in the tradition. Amy Markland is now working directly for the Side-Out Foundation. The youngest in the family, daughter Izzy, joins the JV team as a freshman.
Izzy and three other students from Bel Air are Dig Pink student ambassadors who will be a part of a special group of student advocates for the program. While it takes a lot of work from many families and businesses in the community it has always been worth it. Knowing that they are helping families in their most desperate moments is teaching students about compassion for others.
For more information contact:
Coach Dave Simon dsimonx75@gmail.com
Coach Sara Markland Sarahmarkland15@gmail.com
Amy Markland amy.markland@side-out.org
