Oxford Pink Ribbon Basketball Challenge For Breast Cancer

Thursday, 29 August 2019 07:19

At the end of September, St. Mary's High School will host two women's college basketball teams in the Pink Ribbon Basketball Challenge. The charity game will see the McMaster Marauders and Fanshawe Falcons square off.

WOODSTOCK - St. Mary's High School will see the McMaster Marauders will play Fanshawe Falcons in the Oxford Pink Ribbon Basketball Challenge on September 28th.

The charity basketball game will raise money for breast cancer, with all proceeds going towards the Canadian Cancer Society in Woodstock.

Executive Director Paul Martin says the fundraiser is to also help promote women's basketball in Oxford County.

"In the past the Oxford Attack Community Basketball Club and the Oxford Basketball Officials Association have brought some brought men's college games to town, but as we started to see more interest in girls basketball we thought we'd approach some women's team to Woodstock."

Martin has been refereeing basketball for 50 years and he says he has maintained a pretty good relationship with a lot of coaches. After gaining interest from both teams' head coaches, they decided to put it together.

He says McMaster's head coach Theresa Burns and Fanshawe's assistant coach Theresa Carriere are both cancer survivors as well.

"When we started putting this game together, once I found out both teams had coaches that were cancer survivors, and having done some things previously for the Canadian Cancer Society, I thought this would be a good tie in to be able to promote breast cancer with what they're planning on doing for their campaign."

The event will also feature four high school basketball games as well. The gym inside of the school holds a capacity of 500 seats and Martin says this is the first time they have made advanced tickets available.

Tickets are $5.00 and they can be picked up at the Merrifield Book Shop, Canadian Cancer Society or Woodstock Print & Litho Ltd.

The game will start at 2:00 pm.