By Angelita Faller

GRAMBLING, LA – Katherine Mixon will always remember throwing the first pitch in the April 14 Grambling State University baseball game against Jarvis Christian College as one of the most exciting moments of her life. As someone who has struggled with sports due to asthma, it gave her a rare opportunity to not only participate in college athletics, but to raise awareness about breast cancer at the same time.

“It was so exciting. I was very honored that they even asked me. I felt like a hero, because they could have chosen anyone, but they chose me. I have not been athletic in my life, because I have asthma, but all the guys were so nice, and they treated they like a mom,” said Mixon, who retired from Grambling as assistant director of student financial aid in 2013.

More than 12 years ago, Mixon was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer on her father’s birthday, Oct. 27. Since then, she has felt an overwhelming responsibility to provide testimony about her experience to others. Throwing the first pitch at Grambling’s Pink Strike Out Breast Cancer walk and baseball game provided her with a great opportunity to inspire others.

“Just throwing that ball lets people know I’m here and I’m alive. It’s like a testimony for me to get out there and throw that ball. Other people who are going through it know that they can get through it too,” she said.

Head Baseball Coach James Cooper has held the event three times over the past five years, but it has been rained out twice. He was inspired by one of his players whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“During my tenure here, his mom was in Atlanta. He got the phone call from his parents that she had breast cancer. It was pretty frightening. He dealt with her breast cancer from his sophomore to senior years. She beat it, but the fact that she is eight hours away made it tough,” Cooper said.

During the breast cancer awareness event, members of the baseball team and breast cancer survivors from the More Than Conquerors Breast Cancer Support Group marched from the parking lot of Robinson Stadium to Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park, while members of the baseball team handed women information about mammograms and breast cancer prevention.

Survivors who marched during the event include Rixie Thompson, Jan Rose, Joann Perry, Delores Avery and Delane Smith. Thompson, president of the support group, said it was especially inspiring for everyone to see Avery and Smith, who are both undergoing treatment for stage four breast cancer, complete the march.

“I think the highlight of the whole walk was the fact that the baseball players were passing out student awareness and that these two stage four survivors made the walk. They are both in treatment. I had a back up truck in case they couldn’t make the walk, but neither of them ever said they wanted to get in truck. They were both determined to make the entire walk,” Thompson said.

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