If you saw the Virginia sidelines at the men’s basketball against Boston College on Saturday afternoon, you may have noted something unusual. The coaching staff for the No. 7 Cavaliers all sported sneakers and suits for the annual Coaches vs. Cancer partnership between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society.
This year, the sneakers for Virginia were extra special. Fourth-year pre-med student Ben Harold spearheaded Shoes for Hope, an initiative that had young cancer patients at UVA’s hospital hand paint pairs of Nike Air Force Ones. Members of Virginia’s team and coaching staff — along with the Virginia women’s basketball team — joined the event. The coaches then donned the special pairs for Saturday’s game against the Eagles.
🧡💙 Bigger than basketball!
🔶⚔️🔷#GoHoos | #ShoesForHope pic.twitter.com/nYSrBA1buX
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) January 28, 2023
“The honor the children, the patients who are battling cancer. They decorated all the coaches’ shoes,” Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said of the sneakers. “We sat with them [the families and patients] … and it was was really powerful to have them come together. It was good for the families and to see this take off.”
Saturday’s game is bigger than basketball!
🔶⚔️🔷#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/vsDTxP2XjF
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) January 26, 2023
The game-worn sneakers will now be auctioned off to raise money to support cancer research.
