The 2012 UNB women’s basketball program held their 6^th annual “Breakfast for Success” earlier today to a sell-out crowd at the Fredericton Inn.

The annual fundraiser, featuring guest speaker Barb Ramsay, is more than just about the dollars that go to supporting scholarships and enhancing the women’s basketball program.

 “It’s about connecting with the Fredericton community and seeing this room filled with supporters of and for our program.  And most importantly the young girls from the many local teams that are here today and their relationship with our team and their involvement with our program now and in the future,” said head coach Jeff Speedy.

“It’s not often you see this kind of support for women’s sports anywhere in the country and to see everyone here today supporting UNB women’s basketball is pretty special,” continued Speedy.

It was this breakfast four years ago that inspired guest speaker Ramsay to want to become involved with the women’s basketball program. “I was blown away by how much this man [coach Speedy] cares about and connects with his team,” said Ramsay who has worked with the team for the past year.

“I emailed him and told him how impressed I was and we finally connected last summer.  We both felt that the fit was great and it’s been an incredible experience.”

Ramsay is a graduate of UNB with both an undergrad (Bachelor of Physical Education) and a master’s degree in the Faculty of Kinesiology.  She completed her graduate degree in Exercise Science and studied with sports psychologist Dr. David Scott.  She has been working with the women’s basketball team for the past year, putting her mental skills training to good use.
Ramsay shared three key lessons that the Varsity Reds athletes and coaches taught her over the past year – Adversity, Commitment and Greatness.

She also introduced three young ladies - Torrie Janes, Kylee Speedy and Keillan Lavigne - who spoke to the audience about their hopes of becoming Varsity Reds when they attend UNB in the future.

Jeff Speedy’s daughter, nine year old point guard Kylee, won everyone’s hearts when she said that, “the V-Reds are really nice people and they’re always nice to little kids like me.”

She went on to say, “It’s my dream to play for the V-Reds and for my dad to coach me.  Me and my dad made a deal that my last game will be his last game coaching.”