National Shoot For The Cure Total $123,000+

(TORONTO, ON) U SPORTS’ Shoot for the Cure Week was a success, from coast to coast.

The 14^th annual fund-raising campaign by U SPORTS women’s basketball programs, in support of the Canadian Cancer Society tripled its 2021 goal of $44,000, raised more than $123,000 nationally.

Shoot for the Cure Week ran between February 1^st and 7^th.

During that time, UNB REDS teams combined to raise more than $16,400 dollars, more than four times their initial fund-raising goal of $4,000.

This year’s national total of $123,000 pushes Shoot for the Cure’s cumulative total, raised since the initiative was launched in 2007-08, to over $1.57 Million for the fight against breast cancer.

“To raise this amount of money in such a tough year, without any games or in-person interaction with our fans, is amazing. I’m blown away with the engagement and effort by our student-athletes, coaches and administrators from across the country,” said Jeff Speedy, head coach of the UNB REDS women’s basketball team and the project manager for U SPORTS Shoot for the Cure. “We can all make a difference, one donation at a time, and a lot of people have chosen to make that difference.”

The impressive totals come following the week-long online initiative, in lieu of on-campus activations and the traditional U SPORTS Final 8 cheque presentation, due to the on-going pandemic. The activities included skills competitions, hair-cutting, trivia nights, auctions, fitness classes, skills clinics, fun runs/walks, raffles, 50/50 draws and more, all held virtually.

Select U SPORTS members also plan to hold additional events later this month, after which official totals will be updated.

The majority of U SPORTS’ 48 women’s basketball programs in the country’s four conferences took part in promoting the fundraiser through their respective digital channels, as part of a national marketing campaign for the second consecutive year.

“Each year, funds raised through Shoot for the Cure support ground-breaking breast cancer research, and a national support system to help people at every stage of their cancer journey,” said Jane Parsons, Regional Executive Director, Atlantic, for the Canadian Cancer Society. “Breast cancer hasn’t stopped being a life-changing and life-threatening disease during a global pandemic, and CCS has seen increased demand for many of our support systems, including our telephone and online programs. It’s thanks to the generous contributions from Shoot for the Cure organizers, donors and participants that we’re able to support Canadians affected by breast cancer during the pandemic and year-round.”

Donations can still be made online, via the Canadian Cancer Society website, through each member institution’s team fundraising page here.

For the all-time Shoot for the Cure donation totals, click here.