Basketball suits and sneakers to mark cancer awareness

Published or Revised February 02, 2012

This Saturday Paris Junior College basketball coaches will celebrate Coaches vs. Cancer by wearing suits and tennis shoes. The Lady Dragons will also be wearing pink laces in their shoes, and fans are asked to wear white shirts to show solidarity in the fight against cancer at the 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. games against San Jacinto College in the Hunt Center. Coaches vs. Cancer is an initiative of the American Cancer Society that empowers coaches, their teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer. By lacing up sneakers with their suits, PJC coaches are spotlighting the fact that while cancer remains a major health concern, everyone can take daily steps to reduce their risk of the disease. For those who do not smoke, weight control, exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to improve health and reduce cancer risk. Obesity has been shown to increase the risk for many forms of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancers and may account for 20 percent of cancer deaths in women and 14 percent in men. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of college and high school coaches and fans across the country, Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $70 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. Please join the players in the Hunt Center this Saturday and wear white to show your support. The men’s basketball team plans to sign the backs of fans’ T-shirts after their game.