Organizers behind the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game are teaming up with Indiana University to recruit hundreds of women to donate healthy breast tissue in a large-scale research initiative aimed at improving breast cancer prevention and treatment.
The event, called All-Star Cure, will take place July 12-13 at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, just days before the WNBA All-Star Game tips off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19. Officials hope to collect samples from up to 500 donors, with a focus on women under 40 and women of color — two groups historically underrepresented in breast cancer research.
“For this event, we are targeting Black and brown women, 18 years of age and older, and we are targeting women under 40 of any race or ethnicity, and that is because that is the tissue that researchers need,” said Kathi Ridley-Merriweather, communication and recruitment manager for Komen Tissue Bank.
The drive is hosted by the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank, the only repository in the world for healthy breast tissue. Donors will provide a small tissue sample through a needle biopsy, along with a blood sample and health questionnaire. The process takes about 60 to 90 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia.
For Rae McLean, who works for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the donation process was very simple.
“I remember that week. It was really cold outside and then for whatever reason that morning, the sun was out, so I just felt like that was a sign,” McLean said. “I remember pulling up to the tissue bank, walking down this long tunnel and I remember seeing someone’s face at the end of the tunnel just smiling from ear to ear … They already knew my name and were excited for me to be there.”
McLean said the process was smooth and professional — and more importantly, empowering. After losing her sister to breast cancer a few years ago, McLean felt that donating her breast tissue could help others like her sister, and to her, that meant the world.
“It was just very important to help live on her legacy, help find a way to help other women because I couldn’t help her through her process,” McLean said. “It’s bigger than me at this point. It’s more so helping live her legacy on helping do something for my sister and her children and just helping the next generation of women who are not only maybe dealing with this but who will in the future deal with this.”
All-Star Cure follows the model of Indy’s Super Cure, a tissue collection held during Super Bowl XLVI week in 2012. That event yielded nearly 700 tissue donations, including a record percentage from African American and Latina women.
Former Indiana Fever star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings, who participated in Super Cure more than a decade ago, is once again lending her support as co-chair of the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to make an impact beyond the court,” Catchings said in a statement. “I was proud to be part of this effort in 2012, and I’m proud to help again in 2025.”
The 2025 event is backed by partners including Eli Lilly and Company, the Catherine Peachey Fund and the WNBA All-Star Host Committee.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women worldwide. Yet despite advances in treatment, researchers say many critical questions remain — particularly when it comes to disparities in outcomes.
The Komen Tissue Bank’s work has already led to significant breakthroughs. IU researchers used previous donations to create the most comprehensive map to date of healthy breast tissue, revealing differences linked to genetic ancestry that may affect cancer development.
To be eligible, participants must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Not have breast implants.
- Not have a history of breast cancer.
- Not be on blood thinners (except aspirin).
- Not be allergic to local anesthetics.
Organizers say the operation will run much like a “medical pop-up,” requiring careful coordination to meet donation goals.
By aligning with the WNBA All-Star Game, organizers hope to reach new audiences and encourage more people to think about how they can contribute to medical research.
“It’s so important to the Komen Tissue Bank for companies and groups like Pacers Sports and Entertainment to support us,” Ridley-Merriweather said. “It gives us viability; it gives us a foundation.”
Participants must pre-register for an appointment and will undergo a brief medical screening on-site. Appointments can be made online at komentissuebank.iu.edu or by calling 866-763-0047.
The All-Star Cure team is also seeking around 800 volunteers to assist over the two-day event. Volunteer roles range from donor escorts and greeters to medical professionals who assist with screenings and biopsies.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
