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Gallaudet basketball teams set to host two benefit games to fight cancer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For the third consecutive year the Gallaudet University men's and women's basketball programs are teaming up to hold benefit games over the next three weeks to help raise awareness and donations to fight cancer.

GU will start things off this Saturday, January 30, with Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers weekend, which is a collaborative initiative of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Participating NABC member coaches will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their suits during weekend games to demonstrate their support for the American Cancer Society and its vision of a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Basketball fans are also encouraged to wear sneakers to games that weekend to show their support. The Bison will host the University of Mary Washington with the women's game tipping off at 2 p.m. followed by the men's game at 4 p.m.

"This is an important cause for us to support because we all have known someone that has had cancer. It effects us all. I hope the campus community can come out and support Coaches vs. Cancer," said Gallaudet men's basketball coach Jeb Barber.

On Wednesday, February 17, the Bison will participate in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) "Pink Zone" initiative, formerly known as "Think Pink", that helps to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. Gallaudet will welcome St. Mary's (Md.) College to town for a men's and women's doubleheader that begins at 6 p.m. with the women's game followed by the men's game at 8 p.m. GU is encouraging all fans in attendance to wear something pink to show their support for this special cause. The Gallaudet University athletics department will be selling special Bison pink sweatshirts in the lobby for $25 with a portion of the proceeds going towards the WBCA Pink Zone.

"We are honored to participate in the WBCA Pink Zone initiative for a third year," said Gallaudet University women's basketball coach Kevin Cook. "We hope we can paint the Field House pink on February 17!"

More information about Coaches vs. Cancer, Pink Zone, the Kay Yow/WBCA Fund, The V Foundation is available from the following resources:

About the American Cancer Society/Coaches vs. Cancer
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of college and high school coaches and fans across the country, Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $55 million since 1993 to help the Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit communities, and deliver services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Additional information is available at www.coachesvscancer.org.

About WBCA Pink Zone
The WBCA began the WBCA Pink Zone, formerly known as "Think Pink", in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities. The 2010 Pink Zone dates are February 12-21. Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, served as the catalyst for the initiative after her third reoccurrence of breast cancer in 2006. In 2007, more than 120 schools unified for this effort and helped make the inaugural year a success. In 2008, over 1,200 teams and organizations participated, reaching over 830,000 fans and raising over $930,000 for breast cancer awareness and research. The 2009 campaign raised over $1.3 million, reached over 912,000 fans, unified more than 1,600 participating teams and organizations, and saw 56+ schools break attendance records at their event. The WBCA's charity of choice is the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, in partnership with The V Foundation. The WBCA strongly encourages all donations from Pink Zone games to be given to this Fund. Additional information can be viewed on its Web site at www.wbca.org/pinkzone.asp.

About the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund
The Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund was announced on December 3, 2007, during the Jimmy V Classic. The Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, in partnership with The V Foundation for Cancer Research, will raise money in the fight against women's cancers. It was appropriate to announce this Fund during the Jimmy V Classic because of the connection between the late Jim Valvano, former North Carolina State head men's basketball coach, and the late Kay Yow, former North Carolina State head women's basketball coach. The Fund was the first women's initiative that the WBCA has chosen in its 28-year history, and is also the newest women's initiative for The V Foundation. For additional information about the Kay Yow/WBCA Fund, please visit www.wbca.org/kayyowwbcacancerfund.asp.

About The V Foundation
The V Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to saving lives by helping to find a cure for cancer. The foundation seeks to make a difference by generating broad-based support for cancer research and by creating an urgent awareness among all Americans of the importance of the war against cancer. The V Foundation performs these dual roles through advocacy, education, fundraising and philanthropy. For additional information about The V Foundation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.