Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tourney Raises $61K In First Year
May 18, 2015 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER- The inaugural OSU Coaches vs. Cancer Longest Day of Golf event surpassed expectations, raising $61,000 for the American Cancer Society. 100 celebrity and amateur players hit the links at the Stillwater Golf and Country club for the first year of the golf tournament. Children affected by cancer and their families filled the gallery to inspire the players and were hosted by sponsors Corff Energy Complex, Territory Resources and Shaw's Gulf. Many of the day's volunteers were also cancer survivors or volunteered in honor or memory of someone who has battled this disease.
The Longest Day of Golf drew a stellar field of OSU coaches, athletes turned pro, and state and national broadcasters. The list of celebrities included ESPN commentators John Anderson and Bryndon Manzer, Voice of the Cowboys Dave Hunziker and KWTV sportscaster John Holcomb; former OSU Cowboys turned NFL players Charlie Johnson and Zac Robinson; PGA players Chris Tidland, Jeff McMillian, Jonathan Moore and Talor Gooch; NBA players Desmond Mason and Markel Brown; OSU Football Head Coach Mike Gundy, OSU Men's Basketball Head Coach Travis Ford, OSU Women's Basketball Head Coach Jim Littell, OSU Women's Golf Coach Courtney Jones, OSU Men's Golf Coach Alan Bratton, OSU Women's Assistant Coach Par Nilsson and OSU Head Tennis Coach Chris Young.
"We are elated by the success of the inaugural year of this event," said Dave Hunziker, OSU Coaches vs Cancer Official Spokesman and LDOG Executive Team. "OSU's Coaches vs Cancer program is proud to lead the fundraising efforts in the Big 12. Of course we want to thank the celebrities, sponsors and organizers of the event who put us over the top this first year. The key to OSU's success is the interaction of our student-athletes and coaches with those fighting this terrible disease. They inspire us. Our ultimate goal is to put ourselves out of business with a cure to cancer."Â
About Coaches vs CancerThis first Longest Day of Golf fundraiser was dedicated to the memory of Matt Allen, an OSU graduate who died of brain cancer at the age of 46 in 2013. His wife and children joined the participants in celebrating Matt's passion for OSU's Coaches vs. Cancer program and his dream of just such a golf tournament to raise funding and cancer awareness.
The American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer® program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. The Coaches vs. Cancer program provides critical mission outreach, while raising funds to help the American Cancer Society finish the fight against cancer.
Follow the program on Facebook and Twitter - @OSUCvC
