Iowa City, Iowa – The Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, plays host to the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in the country is what is to be an exciting NCAA Men’s Basketball game this Saturday, December 19th. CBS sports will broadcast that game at 11:00 a.m. CST.
This game is not only a matchup of two of the top teams in the country, it will also highlight the importance of continued support in the fight against cancer. Coach Fran McCaffery and Coach Mark Few will be rocking custom Coaches vs. Cancer Sneakers to show their support and commitment to the mission of the American Cancer Society and the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers program which takes place nationally January 25 – 31, 2021. To learn more, visit www.suitsandsneakers.org
“Coaches vs. Cancer events help fuel the American Cancer Society’s mission, essentially grounded due to COVID-19, in the fight against cancer,” said Coach McCaffery, “but it’s a fight that can’t be cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled. Cancer won’t stop. So neither can we.”
University of Iowa, Coach Fran McCaffery has been involved in the Coaches vs. Cancer program for more than 15 years. His son, Patrick, is a thyroid cancer survivor, and his wife Margaret is an American Cancer Society National Board Member, together their generosity has raised over $2 million dollars in the fight against cancer.
McCaffery’s shoes on Saturday honor Patrick and Patrick’s childhood friend Austin, who passed way after a yearlong battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Gonzaga Coach Mark Few and his wife Marcy have been involved with the Coaches vs. Cancer program since 2002 when they hosted their first fundraising event. Few’s shoes on Saturday will honor pediatric cancer patients like those he supports through the Camp Good Times program which is a weeklong summer camp for kids with cancer.
The shoes were created by a mother and son team based in Minneapolis and Denver called Tite Customs. Ryan and Lisa Tite share, “We were initially inspired to create wearable art after seeing some incredible work being worn in sports over the last several years through initiatives like Suits and Sneakers and My Cause My Cleats. The sneaker community attracts people from all walks of life, and it’s so much fun working with someone on a custom design that represents something important to them. For us, the opportunity to work with The American Cancer Society means a lot, as we both lost a parent to cancer way too early. We are super thankful to the ACS and to Coaches vs. Cancer for the things they do to support people and families in their fight against cancer, and are honored to be able to play a small part in raising awareness about their great work.”
You can find their work on Instagram www.instagram.com/tite_customs
During this challenging time, cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers are turning to the American Cancer Society for information, resources, and support. Funds raised by the Coaches vs. Cancer program help the American Cancer Society continue to invest in cancer research and provide programs critical for cancer patients now and in the future. We are proud to partner with Sanford Health, headquartered in Sioux Falls, and serve the patients from one of the largest health systems in the United States.
“Cancer patients are counting on the American Cancer Society now more than ever before,” McCaffery added. “We’re also making measurable progress with a 29% drop in cancer death rates – we simply can’t let cancer gain ground now.”
About Coaches vs. Cancer
For over 25 years, the Coaches vs. Cancer program, in collaboration with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, has united coaches and fans nationwide to help the American Cancer Society defeat a common enemy – cancer. With your passion and dedicated support, the impact has been felt in communities nationwide. Through fundraising and education initiatives, the Coaches vs. Cancer program has supported the American Cancer Society in improving and saving lives from cancer in the US and worldwide. The fight isn’t over, and we need you on our team. For more information and to join coaches in the fight against cancer, visit coachesvscancer.org
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to cancer.org.
About the Sanford Pentagon
The cornerstone of the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the Sanford Pentagon, a 160,000-square-foot, five-sided facility featuring nine basketball courts, including the 1950s/1960s-inspired Heritage Court. The venue combines state-of-the-art amenities—including high-definition video boards and executive suites—with period-specific finishes that are a nod to the nostalgic days of basketball.
The 3,250-seat Pentagon is home to Sanford POWER Basketball Academy, Sanford POWER Volleyball Academy, the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, Augustana University Men’s and Women’s Basketball, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women’s and Men’s Basketball tournaments and the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame.
