NC State Hosts 2nd Annual Victory Over Cancer Game Today

Photo Courtesy of NC State Baseball

NC State will be going for the series sweep over #2 Clemson on Saturday afternoon. While a win would be hugely beneficial for the Pack’s Regional hosting dreams, Saturday’s game is about more than baseball. The series finale is the 2nd Annual Victory Over Cancer game to support research for pediatric cancer. 

NC State athletics has a long history generating awareness and research funds in the battle against cancer- starting in the early 80s with the legendary women’s head basketball coach Kay Yow. Long-time NC State men’s basketball coach Jim Valvano, who was diagnosed with cancer in the early 90s, is well known for his iconic 1993 ESPYs speech and the cancer research foundation that bears his name.

When NC State head coach Elliott Avent, who was close to both Yow and Valvano, was approached by former Wolfpack shortstop and current MLB star Trea Turner about starting a charity fund with his wife for children’s cancer research, Avent got the idea for this event. Today, players and coaches will wear the special warmup shirts and hat patches in honor of the children fighting cancer. Local families in the midst of that battle will also be involved in a special pregame experience on the field.

“It was just, the light went off,” Avent said. ”You’ve got Jimmy who started the cancer fund and the foundation, then Kay Yow with awareness for breast cancer. And now, what better cause than children's cancer?”

Additionally, the ACC announced Monday that this week is the first ACC Baseball Cancer Awareness Week. Throughout the season, schools across the conference have been raising awareness and funds for cancer research. While not every ACC team is hosting a cancer awareness game this week, most (if not all) have hosted one at some point this season. 

Clemson, who has dropped two games in a row and had a very disappointing start to this series, is grateful for the opportunity to play in this game. 

“When you look at big-picture stuff, losing a series is nothing compared to serious issues, life-or-death issues, especially when you're talking about pediatric cancer, said Clemson head coach Erik Bakich following Friday night’s loss. “Who cares about baseball when you're talking about pediatric cancer? Anything we can do before the game for that ceremony with those kids out here to pour into them and brighten their day is a win all by itself.”

Avent proposed the initial idea to create the ACC Baseball Cancer Awareness Week. Last year’s inaugural game was successful, raising more than $50,860. The goal for this year is $60,000.

“Every school in the ACC is trying to play [a cancer awareness game],” Avent explained. “Wake Forest had theirs last Saturday and I think Texas A&M had one.”

Avent has worked extremely hard on this project, calling numerous coaches around the country in an effort to get as many programs as possible to host a cancer awareness game on their campus during the season. 

“I applaud Coach Avent for really spearheading the charge to get this to be mainstream in college baseball, to where everybody is having a cancer awareness game or a pediatric cancer game,” Bakich said.

While Avent recognized the administrative hurdles for an annual cancer awareness game on every campus, Avent is confident that a country-wide effort will soon come to fruition.

“I think in the very, very near future, there's going to be a pediatric cancer awareness game on every campus– Division I, II, and III,” Avent said. “Think about in 10 years how much money can be created for research. If you have research, you're going to have solutions, and while it may not be total cures, you can extend someone's life or make that life better in the time that they're fighting this disease. This is more than big to me.”

You can donate to the V Foundation for the Victory Over Cancer game by going to the following link: https://donate.v.org/campaign/676862/donate