KU hoops gives a behind-the-scenes look at Ladies Night Out for cancer research
LAWRENCE, Kan. – More than 400 women gathered in historic Allen Fieldhouse for the seventh annual “Ladies Night Out” hosted by Kansas men’s basketball Wednesday evening.
Following a two-hour afternoon practice, the KU men’s basketball players and staff cleaned up and joined the 400-plus women to show them a behind-the-scenes look at the KU program. In conjunction with breast cancer awareness month, the event, which has sold out every year, benefits Jayhawks for a Cure with all the proceeds donated to Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH) and the KU Cancer Center in an effort to fund cancer research. Many of the event’s attendees are cancer survivors.
“This is for a great cause,” KU head coach Bill Self told the group. “Everybody’s been touched in some way, shape or form by this dreadful disease. I know that our basketball program, and certainly our athletic department, does as much as we possibly can and all the proceeds tonight go to Jayhawks for a Cure.”
Self introduced the staff and team to the attendees as they sat on the west side bleachers. He had the student-athletes introduce themselves, say their hometown and why they chose Kansas.
“Why not Kansas?” said junior forward Dwight Coleby who just happened to be the first player introduction. Coleby received a loud ovation from those in attendance. “It’s the best tradition to be a part of,” senior Frank Mason III said. “I chose Kansas because it’s a special place,” sophomore Carlton Bragg Jr. said.
Then the players and staff participated in a Q&A session and giveaways. Following, the patrons split up into smaller groups and headed off to stations throughout the complex.
Stations included a photo with a collection of KU’s 12-straight Big 12 regular-season championship and NCAA trophies in the Self era, a locker room tour, a Self scouting report video demonstration, a strength and conditioning demo by associate athletics director Andrea Hudy and another Q&A session with staff members. Another station gave attendees the chance to shoot photos and gather autographs with Jayhawks.
“This is always good because what we are doing goes to charity,” junior Svi Mykhailiuk said of the event. “We love to help people and to make people happy. They have fun with us. This is a great event.”
Ladies Night Out is one of several Jayhawks for the Cure events that takes place throughout the calendar year. Pink out games for KU’s 18 varsity home events also raise awareness and funds for the cause. Student-athletes, coaches and staff work together with the university and the community of Lawrence to raise money for cancer research at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and the KU Cancer Center.
Sponsors for the 2016 Ladies Night Out included Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 23rd Street Brewery and MillerCoors.
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