Shoot For The Cure game returns to CARSA

VICTORIA – Three months into another Canada West basketball season and the University of Victoria Vikes are ready to host their 13th annual Shoot for the Cure games presented by CTV Vancouver Island, CFAX 1070 and Virgin Radio 107.3.

This year, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack will roll into CARSA for a pair of weekend sets against our men’s and women’s program. On Friday night, it’s another installment of the provincial rivalry: the women start at 6 p.m. with the men following at 8 p.m. The Shoot For The Cure games take place the following night, when the women tip at 5 p.m. and the men at 7 p.m.

The U SPORTS Women’s Basketball fundraising initiative to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) – and other related local and provincial charities – tips off for the 13^th consecutive year with an expanded field of participants.

The Shoot for the Cure campaign has proven an overwhelming success since it was launched in the fall of 2007, with over $1.3 million in donations to date. With the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks debuting in their inaugural season, the initiative grows to 48 U SPORTS women’s basketball programs taking part – marking the ninth straight year of full participation.

U SPORTS schools will raise money through regular season games in Canada West, the OUA, RSEQ and AUS, as well as other special events. A cheque will be presented to CCS – which merged with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) in February 2017 – during the gold medal game of the 2020 U SPORTS Final 8 Basketball Championships, hosted jointly by Carleton University, the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group.

“Each year, funds raised through Shoot for the Cure support gold standard breast cancer research in areas of risk reduction, screening, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. The continued advancements in these areas would not be possible if it wasn’t for initiatives like Shoot for the Cure and the trust and kindness of our donors,” said Jane Parsons, the Regional Executive Director, Atlantic for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“The ongoing support of U SPORTS women’s basketball since 2007 is so appreciated. The ongoing commitment of these young adults in their support or the breast cancer cause is admirable,” said Parsons. “Each year, funds raised through Shoot for the Cure support gold standard breast cancer research in areas of risk reduction, screening, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. The continued advancements in these areas would not be possible if it wasn’t for initiatives like Shoot for the Cure and the trust and kindness of our donors.”

The fundraising initiative was the brainchild of Rod Gilpin, the long-time bench boss of the Bishop’s women’s program, now in his 12^th season as head coach of the Gaiters’ men.
These games will also be crucial in the standings as the season unwinds.

The women enter the weekend tied for seventh at 7-7 with the WolfPack and University of Manitoba Bison. The Vikes will be looking to end a five-game losing streak on Friday night (6 p.m.).

On the men’s side, The Vikes are three games in the loss column on the University of Regina Cougars. If the playoffs started this weekend, the Vikes would host a play-in game. Both the WolfPack and the Vikes need these wins this weekend to vault into a top-four position and a bye during the first weekend of postseason play. Tipoff of Friday is set for 8 p.m. on Ken and Kathy Shields Court.

A special presentation is also planned for halftime of the women’s game on Saturday, as the Vikes will celebrate and honour the 2019 U SPORTS National Champion field hockey team by presenting them with the trophy and banner.

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SHOOT FOR THE CURE 2019-20 SCHEDULE