Golden Eagles participate Saturday night in Coaches vs. Cancer program
Tennessee Tech's coaching staff will be dressed a little differently Saturday night when they take on Southeast Missouri in Eblen Center. Head coach Mike Sutton and his staff are participating in the Coaches vs. Cancer program, and will don tennis shoes with their suits.
Former Golden Eagle Jimmy Eliott currently battling
cancer
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech basketball coach Mike Sutton
and his staff will dress a little differently Saturday night when
the Golden Eagles host Southeast Missouri in Eblen Center.
As part of the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers
awareness weekend, Tennessee Tech is also inviting fans to wear
sneakers to the games against the Redhawks.
Sutton and his coaching staff will wear sneakers with his suit
when he’s on the sidelines for Tech’s 7:30 p.m. game
against the SEMO.
The Coaches vs. Cancer® Suits and Sneakers weekend is a
collaborative initiative of the American Cancer Society and the
National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Participating
NABC member coaches will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with
their suits during weekend games to demonstrate their support for
the American Cancer Society and its vision of a world with less
cancer and more birthdays
The coaches also hope to draw attention to the fact that, while
cancer remains a major health concern, there are steps we can all
take each day to reduce our risk.
“We do this every year in an effort to help make people
aware of the challenges that so many people face, both cancer
patients and their families,” Sutton said. “This event
is an opportunity to lend our names to a very worthy cause."
For those who do not smoke, weight control, exercise and a healthy
diet are the best ways to improve health and reduce cancer risk.
Obesity has been shown to increase the risk for many forms of
cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancers and may
account for 20 percent of cancer deaths in women and 14 percent in
men.
However, according to a 2006 survey, only eight percent of people
understand that excess weight is so strongly linked to cancer risk,
while more than 80 percent know of the link between overweight and
heart disease. Overweight and obesity are of particular concern in
minority populations, with higher rates of both reported for
Hispanic men and women and for African American women, than for
non-Hispanic white adults.
Coming up on Feb. 11, Tech will also host a “Think
Pink” event, sponsored by the Women’s Basketball
Coaches Association, to increase breast cancer awareness. That
event will take place at the doubleheader against Murray State, on
Thursday, Feb. 11.
Former Golden Eagle guard Jimmy Elliott (1982-85) is currerntly
battling cancer,
and is writing a blog about his fight with the disease. Read
Elliott's blog at:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jimelliott/journal/
“I’d like for our community to understand how much
we appreciate their willingness to assist, not only in the fight
against cancer, but all of the charitable endeavors that occur in
our community,” Sutton said. “This compassion is just
one of the things that make Cookeville and Putnam County such a
great place to live.”
“I hope this event will help encourage people to continue to
show that support, to be involved, and to take an active
part,” he said.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of college and high school coaches
and fans across the country, Coaches vs. Cancer participants have
raised more than $55 million since 1993 to help the Society fund
groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer
information and education, advocate for public health policies that
benefit communities, and deliver services that improve the quality
of life for patients and their families. Additional information is
available at coachesvscancer.org
Participating coaches have raised awareness at their schools, in
their communities and nationwide by emphasizing how cancer has
touched them personally.
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as
a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and
preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and
service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta,
the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400
communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United
States.
Tickets for Saturday’s doubleheader are available at the
athletic ticket office in Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940
or order online at TTUsports.com.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society or to get help, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
