Montana State fans encouraged to ‘Pack the Place in Pink’ for Sept. 19 football game

BOZEMAN - Montana State University will continue its annual "Pack the Place in Pink" tradition to promote breast cancer awareness at the Bobcats' home football game on Sept. 19.

Fans are invited to purchase a limited-edition shirt to wear during the game against Central Connecticut State. The short-sleeve, pink T-shirt features a Pack the Place in Pink Bobcat logo. The shirt retails for $25.

Participating retailers will donate a portion of the proceeds to Pack the Place in Pink, a Billings-based nonprofit that provides financial assistance to breast cancer patients in Montana. The organization was founded in 2007 by Vicki Heebner Carle, an MSU alumna and retired teacher. Carle, who has twice survived breast cancer, played basketball for MSU in the 1980s and was inducted into the Bobcat Hall of Fame in 1996.

"Montana State continues to support our charity, and each year the university's pawprint gets larger," Carle said. "Partnering with MSU helps us showcase our charity, and the unbelievable Bobcat fans support our cause and vision and help us fundraise for breast cancer patients in Montana."

The Pack the Place in Pink Bobcat T-shirt is available at the MSU Bookstore in the Strand Union Building, at Gallatin Crossing Mall and online at msubookstore.org. It also will be sold at Universal Athletic locations in Bozeman, Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and online at shop.msubobcats.com.

Carle said Pack the Place in Pink is run completely by volunteers, and it has given away more than $1.2 million to breast cancer patients in Montana.

"As a lifelong Bobcat, it is an unbelievable honor to have my university support our cause," Carle said. "Go Cats!"