Stingl: Meeting at Komen race turns survivor into Marquette women's basketball 'superfan'

Julie Taggart's first impression of the women who approached her at breakfast is that they were young and tall. 

This was in 2014 at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which is back in Milwaukee Sunday with another huge run/walk to raise awareness of breast cancer and money to fight it.

Julie, who has been cancer-free since 2005, was enjoying a pre-race breakfast for survivors inside the Milwaukee Art Museum when the visitors introduced themselves as the Marquette women's basketball team. They were volunteering at Komen as ambassadors and greeters.

"They asked if I would maybe like to attend their Play for Kay pink game to be held in February. The Play for Kay Foundation raises money and awareness for women's cancers in memory of North Carolina State women's coach Kay Yow, who battled breast cancer," said Julie, who lives in Racine and runs a travel business.

Formerly of Green Bay, Julie was more of a football fan. She and her husband, Tim, had no connection to Marquette University. But she went to that game, and now she and Tim attend every Marquette women's home game at the Al McGuire Center on campus and even some on the road. They won season tickets one year.

These players from that random meeting, and those who followed the past three years, have become friends. They came to Marquette from across the country, with three on the current squad from Canada, Finland and Sweden. 

"It's been a wonderful experience for all of us. We are their superfans and substitute family members when family can't attend games. I've had players, coaches and families who have been touched by cancer reach out to me, as well," Julie said.

Center Shantelle Valentine is the only player left on the team who was there for that first meeting at the Komen. She was a freshman then and a senior now, and she came to Marquette from Brampton, Ontario.

She called Julie and Tim a constant and comforting presence courtside. 

"She talks to us on Twitter. She retweets everything. They come like an hour and a half before the game starts, and they have seats right behind our bench," Shantelle said. "They were there when we weren't winning any games — sophomore year, freshman year, we didn't win as much as we do now. They've been on this ride with our success."

Rachel Sander, the team's director of program development, said the players have appeared at Komen the past three years, though they will miss this year's event because of another commitment. They also show up faithfully at Al's Run, lead a basketball clinic for Girl Scouts, and volunteer at school events, the Hunger Task Force and the Veterans Affairs hospital.

But the connection the team made to Julie and Tim has been the strongest.

"They really got attached to the team. That's the one thing we always promote about our games. It's much more of a social aspect than the bigger sports. Because we're in a smaller building, you get to know the people around you," Rachel said.

When Julie was in treatment for breast cancer, she was given a beautiful pink shawl. Now she pays forward that kindness by knitting pink scarves for women living with this disease or their relatives. She presented one to Marquette women's basketball assistant coach Vernette Skeete, who lost her mother to breast cancer.

"I was dealt this hand and I just want to help others," Julie said. "The fact that we have this wonderful relationship with the Marquette team is one of those ways. They are great young women, and they know after every home game we will be waiting for them with hugs, in victory and defeat."

Contact Jim Stingl at (414) 224-2017 or jstingl@jrn.com. Connect with my public page at Facebook.com/Journalist.Jim.Stingl