Coaches vs. Cancer event raises over $7,500 for Relay For Life of Jefferson County

FAIRFIELD – Fairfield Community School District’s annual “Coaches vs. Cancer” event raised more than $7,500 for Relay For Life of Jefferson County on Feb. 2.

The event was held during the home basketball games that evening in the Fairfield High School Dan Breen Gymnasium, where attendees got to play games while contributing to a good cause. One of the promotions that evening asked attendees to purchase a rubber duck for $1, and then during halftime, everyone was asked to throw their duck from the stands onto a target at half court. The person with the closest throw won a $50 gift card and gift basket courtesy of Hy-Vee. Community 1st Credit Union sponsored the event, and employees of the credit union also helped to sell ducks.

For each paid admission that night, Fairfield schools gave $1 toward the American Cancer Society. The Fairfield High School Student Council also hosted a free-will soup supper in the cafeteria. The school sold T-shirts that said “Coaches vs. Cancer,” and garnered money through a dessert auction. A donation bucket was passed through the stands so attendees could donate their cash and coins on hand.

Another fun way the event raised money was to have people pledge a certain amount of money for each three-pointer the Trojans made that night. When it was all said and done, the event had raised $7,595.13.

Fairfield Activities Director Jeff Courtright said the district has participated in Coaches vs. Cancer for at least 15 years. According to the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ website, Coaches vs. Cancer began in 1993, and has raised over $155 million for the American Cancer Society. Norm Stewart, former head coach of the University of Missouri’s men’s basketball team and who is also a cancer survivor, helped launch the program.

On Feb. 27, Courtright and Nancy Diers, representing the Trojan Athletic Booster Club, presented the check to members of Relay For Life of Jefferson County, the local branch of the American Cancer Society. Denise Conrad, community development staff partner for the American Cancer Society, said money from fundraisers like Coaches vs. Cancer helps local people and their families as they battle cancer.

For instance, the money goes to defray the cost of lodging and transportation for local cancer patients while they’re receiving treatment, such as at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Conrad mentioned that a Fairfield resident was able to stay at Iowa City Hope Lodge during her entire 28 days of treatment, all free of charge thanks to Relay For Life of Jefferson County.

“When they’re getting radiation treatment, that’s occurring every day, so a lot of them will go to Iowa City and stay at our Hope Lodge, so they won’t have to drive back and forth,” Conrad said. “While they’re up there, Hy-Vee and Panera Bread give fresh bread and donuts throughout the day. And we truly appreciate the community that comes together and helps raise funds for this.”

Diers noted that the desserts sold at auction on Feb. 2 were made by the parents of the basketball players.

“That’s how the basketball parents and their kids give back,” Diers said, who added that booster club members also contributed desserts.

Relay For Life of Jefferson County member Dawn Ridgeway Bechtel said her organization set up a table during Coaches vs. Cancer to sell luminarias and quilt tickets. The group will continue to sell quilt tickets up until its Survivor Meal, which is planned for Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Fairfield Golf & Country Club. Those interested in attending can contact Bechtel at 641-919-2209, or Carrie Brownlee at 641-919-6046.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com