Oct. 9, 2012

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas coach Bill Self helped kick off the 2012-13 basketball season by participating in the Fifth Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Season Tip-Off Reception here Tuesday evening at the College Basketball Experience (CBE).

Self and UMKC head coach Matt Brown have been a part of all five Coaches vs. Cancer Season Tip-Off Receptions at the CBE, which are hosted by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Former Missouri head coach Norm Stewart, one of the founders of Coaches vs. Cancer efforts, also attended the meet-and-greet fundraiser, as did MU coach Frank Haith and Kansas State first-year coach Bruce Weber. Jayhawk IMG Sport Marketing personality Nate Bukaty emceed the event.

“It has been five years,” Self said. “It’s a great event. Of course coach Stewart had a huge role in starting it and has been such a force behind it. I’ve had people close to me that have been affected (by cancer), as we all have, but to me what is so cool is to see people reach out to help other people and their families whenever they are going through trying times. That is really special. Fortunately for us, we (coaches) have a platform whether we deserve it or not to be a spokesperson and have a little bit of an impact. Certainly I know we all take pride in doing that.”

Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the NABC. The initiative leverages the personal experience, community leadership and professional excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round outreach efforts, fundraising activities and advocacy programs. For more information on the American Cancer Society go to www.cancer.org.

KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.