The Mountaineer Maniacs are rallying the WVU community for its support in raising cancer awareness and funds for the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center.

The group will kick off their “Maniacs Press Against Cancer” campaign on Monday (Nov. 16) in the Mountainlair Ballrooms with a viewing and discussion of the renowned Jim Valvano’s ESPY speech. Valvano, nicknamed Jimmy V, was a former North Carolina State basketball coach and broadcaster, who died of bone cancer at the age of 47. Prior to his death, he and ESPN established The V Foundation to carry out his final dream – to defeat cancer.

Following the discussion, the Maniacs will then host a watch party at 7:00 p.m. for the men’s basketball game against James Madison University. The WVU community, including students, faculty, staff and family members, are invited to both events and are encouraged to help raise cancer awareness and funds for the campaign.

“Increasing awareness is our number one goal to be coupled with fundraising,” said Brady Smith, director of fundraising for the Mountaineer Maniacs. “We want to use the unique event that is the Jimmy V Classic to shine a light on our own cancer research that is taking place in Morgantown and highlight how much of a role our basketball team has in that effort.”
The campaign will also include a fundraising competition among WVU students. The student, student group or student organization to raise the most money for the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment will receive an all-inclusive trip to the 2015 Annual Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic doubleheader at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, December 8. The Mountaineers will take on the Virginia Cavaliers, in New York, at 7:00 p.m. The other top five fundraisers will receive lower bowl tickets to the game, and the Maniacs will match the highest donor.

“The seven words: ‘Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.’ from Jim Valvano’s 1992 ESPY speech lives on as the Jimmy V Foundation’s mantra,” said Jason Olen, executive director of the Mountaineer Maniacs. “This is the message we hope to get out to the WVU community through our ‘press against cancer’ campaign.”

In keeping with Coach Huggins’ wishes, the endowment fund supports clinical research, specifically providing access to cancer clinical trials for all West Virginians.

For more information on the event, contact Brady Smith at Bismith@mix.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

ta/11/11/15

CONTACT: Brady Smith, Mountaineer Maniacs
Bismith@mix.wvu.edu; 304.433.6311

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