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Teamwork took on a whole new meaning for Sacramento State athletes on Sunday evening.Every student-athlete at Sac State was asked to raise a minimum of $25 for breast cancer research and to participate in a walk-a-thon at Hornet Stadium.

The majority of the proceeds, estimated at $10,000, are going to the Roseville Sutter Breast Health Center and a small percentage will be kept by the Sac State athletics department, the event’s organizer Megan Frost said.

Frost, a senior at Sac State and undergraduate assistant coach with women’s soccer, has been working diligently, volunteering her time to put together the event titled “Pink, Faith and Me: A Sacramento State Athletics Walk for Breast Cancer.”

In fact, Frost’s mother said she started working on the project over a year ago.

“It was (Frost’s) vision, her energy and her commitment to this cause that made this event possible,” Athletics Director Terry Wanless told participants.

Frost said her inspiration for the event was her best friend’s mother, Pat McGhee, a breast cancer survivor whom she called “a second mom.”

According to McGhee, who did extensive research on the disease after being diagnosed three years ago, one in seven women are infected with breast cancer, and every 30 minutes the disease claims another life.

“Pat struggled, fought and overcame a disease that in truth could have taken her life,” Frost said. “When I think about how different the outcome is for thousands of people every day, it inspires me to want to help.”

Wanless said he was more than willing to help as well.

“It’s for such a worthy cause, and (Frost) had such a passion for it, I just felt we had to get aboard,” he said. “But we also thought it was something we needed to do as a department — to rally our student athletes around a common cause — and I think we’ve been very successful.”

The women’s soccer team, along with women’s rowing, raised the most money, bringing in a combined $5,000.

Both teams showed up on Sunday in high spirits.

While most Hornet sports teams wore Sac State T-shirts and some were clad in team warm-ups, the women’s crew team carried around a large paddle; but women’s soccer took it to the next level.

They showed up in bright-colored 1980s-style prom dresses, big sunglasses and a soccer ball to kick around while walking.

“They’re a very spirited bunch,” women’s soccer coach Katie Poynter said. “I told them they had to dress as a unit, however they wanted to do that. I thought they’d be in training gear, and this is what they decided to do.”

After about a half-hour of walking around the track at Hornet Stadium with music blaring in the background, participants were treated to a hot dog barbecue.

Wanless was so pleased with the event that he said he hopes Frost will be around to turn it into an annual fundraiser, something she plans to do.

“I’m hoping that in the coming years, it’s going to be bigger and better,” Frost said.

As for this year, the turnout of over 200 student-athletes was a good start, and McGhee said she was impressed with the efforts of Frost and Hornet athletics.

“There are so many people affected by breast cancer,” McGhee said. “So it’s great that everyone came together for a great cause.”

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Sergio Abeijon can be reached at [email protected]