Inspiring Women: Lynx Honor Lutricia Vincent


Mark Remme
Lynx Editor/Writer

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Lutricia Vincent is a survivor. Not only did she beat breast cancer a year ago, but she did it without needing to miss out on the things that mean a great deal to her�in particular, leading her sixth grade class at St. Paul Music Academy and attending Minnesota Lynx games as a season ticket member.

�I was able to maintain and not miss anything,� Vincent said. �I would say that the people who are doing the cancer research, keep it up, because I know that it works.�

On Sunday during the Lynx game against the Tulsa Shock, Vincent was honored in an on-court ceremony for her perseverance. As part of the Lynx�s Inspiring Women platform, the organization presented her with an honorary team autographed pink Breast Health Awareness ball. Community relations manager Amanda Collins presented her with the ball at center court in the second quarter.

Sunday was the team�s annual Breast Health Awareness game, during which the Lynx wore commemorative jerseys with pink lettering. Vincent and her story illustrated to the sellout crowd of 10,223 that it is possible not only to survive breast cancer but to do it while not altering her lifestyle a great deal.

Vincent, of Woodbury, said she never missed a full day of work while being treated�only mornings when she went in for treatment.

Wearing pink on Sunday at Target Center, Vincent said she was grateful to be able to share her story and be honored on the court. Her biggest message is that those battling cancer should not give up hope.

�It is treatable, and you can beat it. You can,� Vincent said. �And you can beat it as almost as normal except you have treatments. Other than that, I never spent a day when I didn�t go to work.�

Collins said it was an honor to have Vincent recognized during Breast Health Awareness week. She said Vincent, who is a two-year season ticket member, has an inspirational story to tell.

�Lutricia has been such a strong supporter of the Minnesota Lynx organization, we wanted to honor her for her strength in battling breast cancer,� Collins said. �We wanted to recognize her in front of our crowd.�

Vincent not only is a teacher at St. Paul Music Academy, but she also is very active in AVID, a college readiness system for elementary through postsecondary students that is designed to increase school-wide learning and performance.

She said she loves being a teacher, so being able to continue her teaching duties on a regular basis during her treatment was a big deal to her. Another big deal was being able to attend Lynx games, as she became a new season ticket member about the time she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

�I�ve always come to the Lynx, I never did think about buying season tickets until I talked to one of the representatives,� Vincent said. �And then I got sick and I thought I wouldn�t be able to come to the games, but I still came to the games.�

She said being able to share her story through the Lynx organization was a great experience.

�It means the world to me,� Vincent said. �I�m such a strong supporter of the Lynx. It just means the world to me that they chose me to come out and receive it tonight.�


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