VICTORIA – Thanks to Heart Pharmacy, the All One Fund and the generous local basketball community, the University of Victoria Vikes raised a record $29,200 for Shoot for the Cure, a national U SPORTS initiative supporting the Canadian Cancer Society. This tops last year's record-breaking efforts, which saw the Vikes raise $15,100 for the cause and is the most money raised by any participating institution across Canada.
From Feb. 1-11, players from the women's basketball team shot 100 free throws each while seeking pledges for made baskets. Surpassing their original goal, the virtual initiative brought in a total of $3,500 through online donations to be tripled during the President's multiplier portion of the evening.
Following the women's game, UVic President Kevin Hall, Vikes head coach
Carrie Watts, and Senior Director of Athletics and Recreation,
Clint Hamilton, stepped up for the cause putting their sharpshooting skills on display, pushing the Vikes free throw fundraising tally to $10,500.
Various in-game promotions, including "Stats for the Cure," sponsored by Heart Pharmacy, helped rack up an additional $15,200. Earning $500 for every made Vikes three-pointer and free throw and $100 for every Vikes rebound, the Vikes stepped up big, recording nine made three-pointers, ten free throws, and 57 rebounds in the win.
Vikes women's basketball player
Meike Boerstra, a first-year forward from Calgary, Alta. personally brought in $866 through online pledges, the most money raised by a single student-athlete.
"I've been an up-close witness of the battle with cancer, specifically breast cancer when my mom was diagnosed three and a half years ago. I watched her fight incredibly hard, and, with the help of the funding, research, and technology that we have now, she is now recovering and living a healthy life again," said Boerstra.
"These fundraisers have always had a place close to my heart because I know how much of a difference it makes, so having the opportunity to play a big role really made me want to step up. I reached out to my family and friends who know what my family has been through, and I was very fortunate with their generous donations, which added up this great amount. I'm excited for the years to come with this fundraiser and to raise even more next year."
The Shoot for the Cure event continues to be an important initiative for the Vikes basketball programs who have been avid supporters since its launch in 2007. The U SPORTS campaign has proven an overwhelming success with over $1.59 million in donations to date by all 48 U SPORTS women's basketball programs.
ABOUT SHOOT FOR THE CURE
Shoot for the Cure is the U SPORTS Women's Basketball breast cancer fundraising initiative created in 2007 to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) – and other related local and provincial charities.
The fundraising initiative was founded by Rod Gilpin - the long-time bench boss of the Bishop's women's (1993-2008) and men's (2008-Present) programs - and is currently managed nationally by UNB women's basketball head coach Jeff Speedy.
