Women’s Basketball News

Women’s Basketball

Shoot for the Cure: U SPORTS women’s basketball membership raises over $137,000 in digital campaign to fight breast cancer

U SPORTS Staff

U SPORTS proudly announced its women’s basketball membership raised $137,799.21 as part of a digital campaign for the 14th annual Shoot for the Cure held from Feb. 1-7.

 

A total of $131,151.21 was raised for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), while $6,640 was amassed by schools that elected to donate their fundraised money to local or provincial organizations, bringing the cumulative total to $1.59 Million since the initiative was launched in 2007-08 to raise awareness and money to fight breast cancer.

The donation totals mark the third-highest figure in the program's 14-year history. 

“To raise this amount of money in such a tough year, without any games or in person interaction with our fans, is amazing. I am blown away with the engagement and effort by our student athletes, coaches and administrators from across the country. We can all make a difference one donation at a time and a lot of people have chosen to make that difference.”

Jeff Speedy - Shoot for the Cure Project Manager and head coach, UNB Reds

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 COVID-19 pandemic. The activities included skills competitions, hair-cutting, trivia nights, auctions, fitness classes, skills clinics, fun walks/runs, eSports tournaments, raffles, 50/50 draws and re-airing of classic games – all held virtually. Select U SPORTS members also held additional events later in February and March.

The majority of U SPORTS’ 48 women’s basketball programs across the 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. U SPORTS also published frequent updates of funds raised via social media, showcasing the national progression towards the original goal of $44,000.

“Each year, funds raised through Shoot for the Cure support groundbreaking breast cancer research and a national support system to help people at every stage of their cancer journey. Breast cancer hasn’t stopped being a life-changing and life-threatening disease during a global health pandemic and CCS has seen increased demand for many of our support programs, 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 COVID-19 pandemic and year-round.”

Jane Parsons - Regional Executive Director, Atlantic - Canadian Cancer Society

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