Two teams playing two different sports in two different spots on campus will join forces against a common opponent tonight as both the Huskies women’s basketball and women’s hockey squads will play games in support of the fight against cancer.
For both teams it is an annual undertaking, as the basketball Huskies will be hosting their 13th Shoot for the Cure game while the hockey Huskies Play for a Cure for the 12th consecutive year.
A national initiative, Shoot for the Cure was launched in the fall of 2007 and the 48 U SPORTS women’s basketball programs have collectively raised over $1.3 million in donations for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Rod Gilpin, the long-time coach of Bishop’s women’s basketball program, spearheaded the concept that has grown exponentially in the years that it has been running. Raising $50,320.87 in its first year, Shoot for the Cure has raised over $120,000 in nine of the last 11 years.
There will be a representative from the Canadian Cancer Society accepting donations throughout the game on Friday night, while members of the Huskies will solicit donations during the men’s game taking place immediately after their contest. New this year fans will also be able to pledge a donation amount for each point that the league-leading Huskies score on Friday night.
Hosting a Play for a Cure game for the 12th time, the Huskies women’s hockey team raises funds for causes that are close to their heart.
Last year the Huskies wore blue jerseys in support of goaltender Jessica Vance’s mother Liane’s fight against colorectal cancer.
This year, the jerseys will be purple when the Huskies take to the ice as they play the game in honour of Phyllis Hirose, sister to head coach Steve Kook, who sadly passed from pancreatic cancer in the Summer.
Throughout the game on Friday fans will be able to donate in a number of ways.
There will be a raffle for prizes, a silent auction for items – including a signed stick from Olympic silver medallist Bridgette Lacquette – and finally the team will be auctioning off their one of a kind game-worn purple jerseys.
