VALENTINE, Neb. – A new chapter of the Pink Ladies Dart League is taking aim at breast cancer awareness and support in north-central Nebraska and south-central South Dakota.

The Sicangu Pink Ladies, based in Valentine and on the Rosebud Reservation, is a volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to helping local women battling breast cancer.

“We play darts, have fun, and get to help cancer patients,” said chapter president Sammi Oliver.

The Pink Ladies organization began in Yankton in 2011 and has since expanded to several communities across the region.

Pink Ladies event in Brookings
Pink Ladies event in Brookings  

 

“We’re trying to get our feet wet and figure out what will draw people in to help us help others,” Oliver said.

The new chapter will hold a chili and fry bread feed on October 30 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at the Skylite Bar in Valentine. Tattoo artist Akicita INK will also be on hand offering tattoos, with all proceeds going to the Pink Ladies.

The cause is critical—Nebraska’s breast cancer rate is higher than the national average. The Nebraska Cancer Coalition estimates the state will see 1,790 new cases and 160 deaths from breast cancer in 2025.

The group also hopes to raise awareness across the Rosebud Reservation, where early detection remains a challenge. According to the American Cancer Society, American Indian and Alaska Native women have ten percent lower incidence rates but are six percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, partly due to later diagnoses and lower screening rates.

Oliver says the group is welcoming new members, and you don’t have to play darts to get involved. Anyone interested in volunteering or learning more can contact Oliver at 402-389-0870.