WASHINGTON (CBSDC) — The Harlem Globetrotters’ world tour stops in D.C. this weekend, but the famous basketball team didn’t fly into the nation’s capital — they walked.

Mighty Mitchell and Flight Time Lang, two members of the world-renowned team, carried on a Globetrotter tradition Wednesday by inviting fans and local students to join them as they dribbled and spun basketballs while walking across the Francis Scott Key Bridge from Virginia to D.C.

The Globetrotters will be entertaining the D.C. area with three games this weekend, but the team also is here for more important reasons.

After Mitchell, the team’s 11th female member in 87 years, and Lang crossed into the nation’s capital they continued on to Holy Trinity School where more than 150 students welcomed the Globetrotters with a pep rally. While at the school, the Globetrotters spoke to students about the team’s nationwide “ABCs of Bullying Prevention” program.

The pink basketballs Mitchell and Lang brought with them over the bridge represented a season-long campaign to raise breast cancer awareness. The same pink basketballs will be used in every game this season.

The team also will make community appearances throughout “Globetrotter Week” in D.C., leading up to their three games this weekend — 1 p.m. Saturday at the Verizon Center; 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Patriot Center.

Tickets are available for all three games through Ticketmaster or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

WNEW’s Kimberly Suiters contributed to this report. Follow her on Twitter.

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