Area schools to host "Coaches Vs Cancer"

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) -It’s the time of year where schools around the area are raising money for “Coaches Vs Cancer”, basketball games that directly benefit the American Cancer Society.

The drive began more than 30 years ago and is now a national fundraiser.

Representatives from the American Cancer Society said that Coaches Vs Cancer and other drives like it provide an opportunity for teams and communities to join together at the local level to join the battle against cancer.

“It just rallies those communities,” said Rick Jeddeloh of the American Cancer Society. ”When you can walk around the gyms, whether it’s St. Clair whether it’ll be Lake Crystal or it’ll be in MVL when you see those names on the wall, when you see those people that you honor, when you play those games and the community comes and supports those games it’s all to say ‘hey, thank you for fighting cancer.”

St. Clair has been the biggest fundraiser for Coaches vs Cancer in the state for 7 of the last 8 years.

It’s a community that has personally suffered loss to the disease, which community members said makes them fight that much harder.

“Each night and on Saturday we will certainly talk about that they’re playing for more than just the name on their jersey,” said girls basketball coach Brian Noyes. “They’re playing for an entire community, and they’re playing for those that are battling this disease and have lost their battles with this disease, so definitely our kids get up for this game.”

St Clair will play their Coaches vs Cancer games at home Saturday night and Lake Crystal will be at MSU for their game on Saturday.

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