UPDATE: It was originally written that the women’s game was going to start at 7 p.m. but it will actually start at 5 p.m. The men’s game starts at 7 p.m.

Warriors’ basketball teams will be shooting for raised funds and awareness for cancer as they play a Coaches vs Cancer doubleheader against Long Beach City College on Feb 11.

“Most people have someone close to them who has been affected by cancer, and this is an opportunity to generate awareness,” Randy Totorp, Director of Athletics, said.

According to the American Cancer Society website, “The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers basketball coaches, their teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer.”

EC has participated in this event each year.

“We pick a game and any revenue generated from that game is donated to the American Cancer Society,” Totorp said.

The women’s team will play at 5 p.m., and the men’s team will play at 7 p.m. or immediately following the women’s game.

Robert Uphoff, the men’s basketball coach, has participated in the event for the last eight years.

“All three years I have been at EC, we’ve done Coaches vs Cancer,” Uphoff said.

Uphoff believes that there are many ways for students to get involved in this event.

“I would encourage students to check with the athletic department and health services officers to see if there are opportunities to volunteer or be of service,” he said.

Totorp said the coaching staff is seeking to make the event fun for everyone by planning special activities to take place during halftime including a 3-point shootout.

T-shirts and memorabilia will be sold, and Uphoff encourages students to buy them and not only wear them to the game but any time they are able in order to increase awareness for this deadly disease.

Steve Shaw, Women’s Basketball Coach, agrees that involvement from everyone on the campus is key.

“We really want to make this a campus-wide event. It’s such a great cause, and athletics can be used to promote that cause, but it’s only good if the general public gets involved in it,” Shaw said.

Totorp, Shaw, and Uphoff agree that the more faculty, staff, and students who come out, the more successful the event can be at raising awareness.

“It’s something that everyone should get behind. Spend the night, come out, and be a part of the EC family,” Shaw said.