As part of Jimmy V Week, the Mountaineer Maniacs are helping to fight cancer by raising money for cancer research.

For every West Virginia University student who attends the men’s basketball game vs. Virginia Tech on Saturday at 4 p.m., the Mountaineer Maniacs will donate 10 cents to cancer research. The game takes place at the WVU Coliseum.

The donations will be given to the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

“Saturday’s game opens a new chapter with our old rival Virginia Tech. The game features two great teams and we hope that this opportunity will help to pack the Coliseum,” said Maniacs Director Chris Northrup. “Come out to see a great game between two rivals and help support cancer research.”

The money raised by the Maniacs will also be matched by WVU Student Government Association.

WVU men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins has been a long-time supporter of raising awareness for cancer and funding cancer research. He started the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center fund in honor of his late mother who died of cancer.

“Nick Valvano, who heads up the V Foundation, told me that we have a great cancer center. He said he did research, and that we’re doing good things, which made me feel so much better about what we do,” Huggins said. “We started this at the Mary Babb Cancer Research Center, because my mom grew up on Eighth Street in Morgantown, and my dad grew up in Dug Hill. We’re close to approaching $1 million, which is a wonderful thing.”

Last year, as part of the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge, Mountaineer Nation fell just short of raising $100,000 for the fund. However, fans will have an opportunity to try again early next year.

Fans are also encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to the game as part of the University’s Toy Mountain holiday initiative.

-WVU-

td/12/06/12

CONTACT: Chris Northrup, Mountaineer Maniacs
540-327-7204, Chris.Northrup@mail.wvu.edu

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