Thunderbirds shoot for the cure this weekend

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA UNIVERSITY

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The Algoma Thunderbirds basketball teams will be donning pink this Sunday afternoon at the George Leach Centre (GLC) in their annual Cancer Awareness Weekend event, sponsored by the Algoma University Alumni Council.

Proceeds raised will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Five years after its inception, the annual Cancer Awareness Weekend has grown in support and dollars raised for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Last year’s event raised $5,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

The event is part of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s (CIS) annual Shoot for the Cure event, which aims to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research.

Universities across Canada host Shoot for the Cure basketball games which raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Last year at the CIS Championship held in Windsor, Ontario, a cheque for $112,898.03 was donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and an additional $25,462.55 was amassed by universities that elected to donate their fundraised money to local or provincial charities.

Since its inception in 2007, $761,309.12 has been raised by Shoot for the Cure.

According to the CIS, the $5,000 raised by Algoma University is one of the top monetary amounts raised in 2014, putting the University in the top 10 for most successful Shoot for the Cure events.

Gate proceeds from Sunday afternoon’s games will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.

At half-time, men’s soccer goalie and basketball player Nicholas Palazzi will be cutting and donating his hair to cancer research.

Chuck-a-ball will also occur at half-time.

Donations will also be accepted with all proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Fans can also donate online at the Algoma Thunderbirds Canadian Cancer Society webpage.

The women take to the court at 1 p.m. followed by the men at 3 p.m.

Both Thunderbirds teams are 0-11 in the OUA West while the Nipissing teams are currently 0-10 in the OUA North.

For more information on how you can donate, please contact Johnson at 705-949-2301, Ext 4512 or email at [email protected].

For more information on ticket pricing or to stream the game, please visit www.algomathunderbirds.ca.

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PHOTO: Algoma Thunderbirds forward Brett Zufelt gets caught up with a Queens University player after attempting an offensive rebound during a game January 18, 2014. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday