The University of the Fraser Valley women’s basketball team is set to host its ninth annual Shoot for the Cure fundraisers in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
On Thursday, Feb. 11, the Cascades will host a pub night and silent auction at Finnegan’s Pub & Grill, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 and include a burger, side dish and drink. Items to be auctioned off include gift certificates and products donated by local businesses. Tickets must be obtained in advance, and are available from UFV women’s basketball players, or by contacting event coordinator Hailey Kendall via email (haileykendal@gmail.com).
On Friday, Feb. 12, the Cascades host the Thompson Rivers WolfPack in Canada West regular-season action (6 p.m. tip-off, Envision Athletic Centre), and the game has been designated ‘Shoot for the Cure’ night. The team will be selling T-shirts and wristbands with the Shoot for the Cure logo, and will be accepting direct donations from fans.
In addition, the Cascades have set up a GoFundMe page (gofundme.com/5nhjzy2k) to facilitate online donations.
Shoot for the Cure, a coast-to-coast fundraising initiative established by the CIS Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, is now in its ninth year and is approaching $1 million in total donations.
The campaign, which raises money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) and other related charities, has proven an overwhelming success since it was launched in the fall of 2007 with over $886,000 raised to date. This season, for the fifth year in a row, all 47 CIS women’s basketball schools are set to take part.
The Cascades have participated in Shoot for the Cure since its inception, and head coach Al Tuchscherer noted that his program made it a priority to get involved with breast cancer fundraisers even before the CIS’s national initiative was launched.
“It’s a really important cause,” Tuchscherer said. “Many of our athletes over the years have been personally impacted by breast cancer, with family members and friends. I think it’s important for us to do our part to fight this disease, using the platform that we have.
“For us, it’s always been an athlete-driven project, and we’ve had athletes who have really driven the fundraising and awareness campaign here at UFV. I think our athletes have made a difference in our community with the funds that they’ve raised and the awareness that they’ve brought to breast cancer.”
Over the last five years, the Cascades have raised nearly $14,000 for the B.C./Yukon chapter of the CBCF, including $3,800 last season.
“I’ve only been a part of the UFV women’s basketball program for three years, but I was made well aware when joining that community involvement is a priority for our team,” said Cascades guard Kendall, who has spearheaded the team’s Shoot for the Cure initiative each of the past two seasons. “It has been a rewarding experience to see how the community comes together with the university to support such a good cause.”
Comments are closed.