If you visited the East Islip Marina Park on Sunday, you may have noticed a sea of pink at the East Islip Marina beach volleyball courts.

For the second year in a row, Side Out Volleyball League held a beach volleyball tournament to benefit the Islip Breast Cancer Coalition.

Side Out Volleyball is an adult recreation beach volleyball league for people 15 years old and up. The summertime league plays on eight courts on the South Shore of Long Island from May to August.

“There are people as young as 15 and people as old as 80 playing in the league,” shared Glenn Gillespie, a partner of Side Out Volleyball League. “Competition varies; we have some people who are competitive and some people who just want to get exercise and have fun.”

Teams participating in the tournament were required to have a minimum of six and maximum of 10 players, with at least two females on court at all times. Individual players were welcome to participate, and were pooled together to form teams.

For the price of $15 per player, each player was given a custom pink t-shirt commemorating the tournament. 100 percent of all monies collected from the Breast Cancer Tournament, including the sign-up fees and raffle tickets sold, were donated to Islip Breast Cancer Coalition.

The Islip Breast Cancer Coalition is an independent, grassroots, not for profit organization of volunteers who serve as a community resource for the residents of the Town of Islip confronted with breast cancer and other women’s cancers. The coalition aims to educate our communities about possible risks and concerns for breast cancer and other women’s cancers by conducting educational seminars, presenting educational programs and outreaches within the community, and encouraging scientific and environmental research.

The Islip Breast Cancer Coalition also provides direct services and support to breast cancer patients through a large variety of programs and services. Among these programs is the Lend a Helping Hand Program, in which IBCC provides assistance to patients in treatment with daily needs, such as, support groups, housekeeping, personal items, salon services, transportation to medical appointments and financial assistance.

“We hear of so many people nowadays getting breast cancer, and we wanted to bring the cause [The Islip Breast Cancer Coalition] to the forefront,” shared Gillespie. “I have known numerous people who have passed away from breast cancer, or currently have breast cancer. This is our way of giving back to a great organization that is close to our hearts.”