Shooting For The Cure, Year 12

UNB 'Think Pink' big part of fund raiser

Members of UNB's women's basketball have their hair cut during the 2018 'Think Pink' weekend, which raised more then $10,000 dollars for 'Shoot for the Cure.' (Photo: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics)

October 24, 2018

(TORONTO, ON) - U SPORTS – The U SPORTS Women’s Basketball fundraising initiative for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), and other related local and provincial charities, is up and running for a 12^th straight year.

The ‘Shoot for the Cure’ campaign has proven an overwhelming success since it was launched in the fall of 2007, with over $1.25 million in donations to date.

The 2018-19 initiative is set to kick off tonight, October 24^th, at the University of Guelph.

All 47 U SPORTS women’s basketball schools will once again participate in the program for the eighth year in a row.

“I am excited that every U SPORTS women’s basketball team is poised to have a ‘Shoot for the Cure’ event this season,” said Jeff Speedy, ‘Shoot for the Cure’ Project Manager and head coach of the UNB Reds. “There are many positive aspects of this national initiative, but having 100% participation by all teams and their student athletes is always very special. I am really looking forward to hearing about many successful events from across the country.”

U SPORTS schools will raise money through regular season games and other special events.

A cheque will be presented to the CCS, which merged with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in February of 2017, during the gold medal game of the 2019 U SPORTS Women’s Basketball Final 8, hosted by Ryerson University.

“We are so grateful to have the support of U SPORTS women’s basketball again this season, said Jaime Legere, Director of Development Atlantic, for the Canadian Cancer Society. “It’s always refreshing to see young adults support the breast cancer cause.”

“Funds raised through ‘Shoot for the Cure’ go to groundbreaking breast cancer research in ares of risk reduction, screening diagnosis, prognosis and treatment,” said Legere. “The advancements in these areas would not be possible if it wasn’t for initiatives like ‘Shoot for the Cure’.”

The fund-raising initiative was the brainchild of Rod Gilpin, the long time coach of the women’s basketball team at Bishop’s University.

In 2018, ‘Shoot for the Cure’ raised almost $119,000 across the country, including $10,281.50 during the Reds ‘Think Pink Weekend.’

“I want my players to give back to the community and I want them to understand, as they become adults, there’s bigger things than basketball,” said Speedy.

UNB’s 2019 ‘Think Pink’ weekend will be January 25-27, and will include women’s and men’s basketball double-headers against St FX, women’s volleyball against Acadia, and women’s hockey against Saint Mary’s and St FX.