The second and last rest day at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women lead the basketball superstars from past to present to rose in arms. It is their way to support the breast cancer awareness atBreastanbul 2014; an international conference on molding awareness about breast cancer.

WNBA icon Edna Campbell led the display of sports personalities that included the Spanish pair of Amaya Valdermoro and Elisa Aguilar, Portugal's Ticha Pinichiero and the Branzova sisters Albena and Gergana from Bulgaria, along with Turkish players Mihriban Oguz, Roksan Kunter,  Ayse Nur Alkaya, Sukran Albayrak and Bahar Akgun gave out their presence in a shoot-out to support the said event.

Breastanbul 2014 is a part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month that is being observed in Istanbul. This program is in association with Europa Donna Breast Diseases Coalition Association, SENATURK, Acibadem University and the Turkish Basketball Federation.

More than 600 specialists from 50 countries discussed over 30 sessions on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

"This event is extremely important in sharing the perspective that coming from background of a professional athlete where most of us are otherwise healthy we feel we are immune to this disease. That's not the case. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the height of my basketball career and by most people's standards I was healthy," said Campbell (made a presentation entitled "Bouncing Back").

She added: "I think it's important for us (sportspersons) to get involved. It helps people realise that they are not alone. There are other people who have gone through it, fought through it and come out strong and healthy."

"It's also important for sports bodies to look at the social and health side, because ultimately all of us are working for a strong and healthy body," added the recipient of the WNBA's Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award in 2003.

"It's an opportunity for us to return what society has given us," said Valdemoro.

She added:"Society at large has given us their support by just watching us play. They have been fans. That itsels is good enough reason for us to be present for an event like this."

Gergana Branzova went a step in advance in saying that "there's more to sport than just being competitive and winning games. We have a social responsibility to spread awareness about issues that are important. And we are really not doing anything great apart from being physically present. I think that's the least we can do in such a noble cause."

Her sister Albena continued: "There's a point in life we all feel 'Hey I wish somebody had told me this'. I don't mean that it's about breast cancer alone. It could be anything. All that I'm hoping for is that we are able to bridge that gap. It's as simple as that."

(Source: 2014 FIBA for Women Official Website)