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Bluefield’s men’s basketball coaches traded dress shoes for sneakers in Sunday’s game against Lindsey Wilson. This was not an ostentatious fashion statement, but a call for awareness in the fight against cancer.

Trey Wilson

January 28, 2013

Bluefield, Va. – Bluefield’s men’s basketball coaches traded dress shoes for sneakers in Sunday’s game against Lindsey Wilson. This was not an ostentatious fashion statement, but a call for awareness in the fight against cancer.

Rams coaches Richard Morgan, Keith Jennings, and Derrick Price, as well as team manager Ryan Moody, joined more than 4,000 college coaches across the nation participating in the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend, organized by the American Cancer Society.

“Coaches vs. Cancer is very special to me,” said Morgan. “I feel like our guys have got to understand why we do this. We get dressed up every day, but today is a special day. You’ve got to put on the sneakers and you’re playing for something else. It’s not just for wins and losses, but for that and the battle against cancer.”

Coaches vs. Cancer integrates fundraising activities and awareness campaigns to offer unique opportunities to fight the disease. The program has raised more than $87 million to assist the American Cancer Society’s mission.

Former N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano lost his battle with cancer in 1993, but his life and inspirational ESPY Awards speech have been centerpieces for cancer awareness over the last two decades. During his All-ACC career at the University of Virginia, Morgan had the opportunity to play against teams coached by Valvano.

“I was very close with Valvano,” said Morgan. “He was one of the guys that first recruited me. Any time you can give back or give respect to somebody that’s been through the game and was a pioneer for us, you’ve got to do that.”

For more information about Coaches vs. Cancer, visit the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org. 

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