March 29, 2024

Coaches vs. Cancer raises more than $7,700

TRURO — Interstate 35 and Central Decatur split the boys and girls doubleheader here on Saturday, but the night truly belonged to the Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser, as more than $7,700 was raised for cancer awareness.

Interstate 35 head boys basketball coach said the event between the two school started two years ago, after his sister passed away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Rankin, who said he is good friends with Central Decatur boys head coach Zach Smith, said he wanted a way for the two schools to raise awareness and do something good for their communities.

“We decided to put some effort forth and really do something good for the community,” Rankin said. “We raised $4,200 last year (at Central Decatur), and this year, I think they said with everything, we raised around $7,700. And there’s still money coming in.

“It’s just something I think we need to make a concerted effort as a community to help the people in the area that have it, that are diagnosed every day with it. It’s just something I think can be addressed by community support, and we made a good effort today.”

The Interstate 35 teams wore special uniforms for the event. The girls team was clad in pink uniforms with “Roadrunners” in white across the front. The boys team wore green uniforms with the word “BEAT” on the front and “CANCER” on the back.

Interstate 35 head girls coach Jamie Smith said in a small community, it’s easy to drum up a lot of support for a cause.

“Along with the school, the booster club and the boys program, it kind of puts things in priority,” Smith said. “Basketball is a great thing, but there’s a lot of other things going on in this world — cancer being one of them. We tried to bring more awareness. In a small community, you get a lot of people involved.”

Central Decatur won the girls game, 53-38, while the Interstate 35 boys defeated Central Decatur 58-46.