Thursday & Friday, Feb. 1-2—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 Fair Haven 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. 1 for the girls’ team and Friday, Feb. 2 for the boys’ team, with games beginning at 5:30 p.m. for JV and 7 p.m. for Varsity. Fans are encouraged to wear navy — 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 American Cancer efforts to help people stay well, get well, find cures and fight back.
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; and raised $6,031 in 2017 for the cause, during events held at Fair Haven High School.
“We at Fair Haven Union lost a much-loved music teacher, Fran LaPlaca, to the disease,” said Coach Leo Hutchins. “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.”
Activities Coordinator Ali Jones said,”Coaches vs. Cancer is one of the most important games because it allows our students to play for a higher cause rather just winning or losing. It also showcases what our students do extremely well, which is strive to help others and use their talents to make the world around them a better place. It also allows two competitive schools to join together for a positive cause.”
“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.
