Fair Haven sponsors coaches vs. cancer games

Thursday, Feb. 9, 5:30 p.m.—FAIR HAVEN—Fair Haven Union High School will once again be joining in the fight against cancer by sponsoring coaches vs. cancer games. This year, they will be competitors on the court with Otter Valley, but they are working together off the court to beat cancer. The public is invited to attend the Coaches vs. Cancer night to cheer on the Slaters and support cancer awareness and research funding that helps save lives.
The games, which take place at Fair Haven Union High School gymnasium, will be held Thursday, Feb. 9 for the boy’s team and Tuesday, Feb. 21 for the girl’s team. Games begin at 5:30 for JV and 7 p.m. for Varsity. Fans are encouraged to wear teal, the color representing both teams, to show support for the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society, the official sponsor of more birthdays. The game will raise funds to help support efforts to help people stay well, get well, find cures and fight back. The Slaters are taking pre-orders for specialized event teal colored t-shirts and will have a few available for purchase the night of the event.
In 2015, the Fair Haven Union High School girls’ basketball teams supported a Coaches vs. Cancer game with Poultney High, raising $1,500. In 2016, the team raised $5,000 for the cause.
“We at Fair Haven Union lost a much-loved music teacher, Fran LaPlaca, to the disease,” said Coach Kyle Wilson. “It’s a cause we all connect with, and a fight we can win. Team members and the Fair Haven community are going the extra mile to raise funds and awareness, and we’ll be showing off our success during the Slaters vs. Otters game.”
“The Fair Haven game will help create cancer awareness and raise funds to find cancer’s causes and cures and provide programs that ease the burden of the disease for people in need,” said Brian Casalinova, American Cancer Society community manager of special events. “Our hope is that one day, students will never have to worry about the threat of cancer. This is an opponent we can—and will—beat.”
Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers basketball coaches, their teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer. The program leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.