Abbotsford — The UFV women’s basketball team is set to participate in the seventh annual CIS “Shoot for the Cure” fundraiser on February 1 as they take on the Brandon Bobcats at the Envision Athletic Centre. The team will also host a dinner/silent auction on January 30 at Phoenix Lounge in Abbotsford, an event held in partnership with the BC/Yukon chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
The Cascades are currently selling tickets ($20 each) to the dinner and silent auction, which will feature former Canadian Idol competitor Greg Neufeld and run from 7-9 pm. Each ticket includes a burger, fries, and a drink, as well as access to the auction. The items to be auctioned off include gift certificates and various donations from Fraser Valley businesses. All proceeds will go to the CBCF.
The “Shoot for the Cure” initiative was launched in 2007 by the CIS Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and has raised over $600,000 for breast cancer research over the last seven years. For the last three years, each of the 45 CIS women’s basketball teams have organized and hosted a fundraising event at a home game, and UFV has been no exception.
In 2011, the Cascades raised over one thousand dollars through direct donations and by selling T-shirts, water bottles, and wristbands with the “Shoot for the Cure” logo. In 2012 they raised $1500, and last year, after organizing the inaugural pub night and silent auction, the team was able to donate $4200 to breast cancer research.
“It’s something we look forward to each year as a team,” said event coordinator and former Cascade Alexa McCarthy. “The event acts as a great way to engage the community and support a worthy cause.”
UFV’s women’s basketball team has been heavily involved in many volunteer initiatives over the years, including canned food drives for the Abbotsford Food Bank, Operation Red Nose, and the Baker house Move In on UFV’s Abbotsford campus. The team is supported in their work by coach Al Tuchscherer, who is a committed advocate of “Shoot for the Cure.”
“The fight against breast cancer is such a passionate topic for so many in our basketball community,” said Tuchscherer. “It seems like there are countless stories of women we have played against who have been inflicted with this disease. Unfortunately this is a disease that will impact people on this team directly or indirectly at some point in their lives … As young women and leaders in the community this is an important initiative for the players to help draw attention to and support. The players and I are proud to say that we are part of an organization that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the search for a cure.”
For tickets, or to donate an item to the silent auction, call Alexa McCarthy at (604) 751-6332 or email her at Alexa.McCarthy@ufv.ca.
Comments are closed.