EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University men's basketball head coach Jeff Wilson, assistant coach Justin Potts and the rest of their staff will participate in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend on Saturday when the Warriors host West Chester at Koehler Fieldhouse.

The initiative, a collaborative effort of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), has encouraged NABC members to wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their suits this weekend to demonstrate their support for the American Cancer Society and its vision of a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Fans may support this cause by texting COACH to 20222 from any wireless phone to make a $5 donation toward Coaches vs. Cancer and help in the search for a cure. For more information, visit the Coaches vs. Cancer Facebook page at facebook.com/coachesvscancer.

The ESU men's basketball program is also in the third season of its “Man Up Against Cancer” campaign for the Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center at Pocono Medical Center. The organizations have partnered with Halterman's Toyota Scion in January and February, with Halterman's donating $5 from each oil change at its Express Lube location on Route 447 to support the cancer center.

This year, Coaches vs. Cancer will also launch a new promotion, “National Sneakers Day”, on Friday, January 27 to kick off Suits and Sneakers Weekend. Similarly to coaches wearing sneakers on the sidelines, the NABC asks that individuals wear their favorite sneakers to work in support of Coaches vs. Cancer.

By lacing up sneakers with their suits, college and high school basketball coaches nationwide will spotlight the fact that while cancer remains a major health concern, everyone can take daily steps to reduce their risk of disease. For those who do not smoke, weight control, exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to improve health and reduce cancer risk. Obesity has been shown to increase the risk for many forms of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancers, and may account for 20 percent of cancer deaths in women and 14 percent in men.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of college and high school coaches and fans across the country, Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $70 million since 1993 to help the Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit communities, and deliver services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Additional information is available at coachesvscancer.org.