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Home News $93,000 Raised Through OUTLIVE, Tennessee Fights to Beat Cancer, Program

$93,000 Raised Through OUTLIVE, Tennessee Fights to Beat Cancer, Program

Published: Thursday, February 5, 2009

Coach Bruce Pearl behind program for more cancer prevention and screenings

Basketball fans and those impacted by cancer rallied together to support the OUTLIVE, Tennessee Fights to Beat Cancer, program during the month of January and raise $93,000 for cancer screening and prevention programs at The University of Tennessee Medical Center Cancer Institute. Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl led the OUTLIVE efforts.

“I’m so proud of all the Vol fans and people from around the country who stepped up to help us in our fight against cancer,” coach Pearl said. “Our team has been impacted by cancer, so this is important to us and we know the money raised through the OUTLIVE program will help save lives in this community through cancer education and screenings by UT Medical Center.”

University of Tennessee director of men’s athletics Mike Hamilton presented the check during halftime of the Florida at Tennessee game to Dr. John L. Bell, Dr. Fred Klein and Dr. Dan Green, all with the UT Medical Center Cancer Institute. Special guests on the court during the presentation included eight-year prostate cancer survivor and UT Medical Center volunteer Jack Evans and Kathleen and Frank Lofton, parents of cancer survivor and former UT star basketball player Chris Lofton. Following the 2007-2008 season, Lofton announced that he had fought and beaten testicular cancer. Lofton’s story served as much of the inspiration behind the OUTLIVE program.

The key messages of OUTLIVE included the importance of cancer prevention and early detection screenings. Evans learned of his cancer through a free community screening by UT Medical Center in 2001. Lofton learned of his cancer through a health screening with his physician.

“Coach Pearl is 100% right that prevention and early detection are crucial in our efforts to beat cancer,” said Dr. Bell, director of UT Medical Center’s Cancer Institute. “Just like Chris Lofton beat cancer through early detection and diligent treatment, we may be able to detect cancer in your mother, brother or neighbor through one of our screenings. The success of OUTLIVE means we at UT Medical Center can expand the cancer education, outreach and screening programs that we offer throughout the region. We are so thankful to coach Pearl, UT Athletics and all the people throughout this community and nation who came together to support the OUTLIVE program.”

The program, announced by Pearl in early January, wrapped up its public efforts during the Jan. 31 game at Thompson Boling Arena in Knoxville with fans working together through a “white-out” to make a statement against cancer. The white t-shirts bearing the OUTLIVE logo, which made up the primary component of the fundraising efforts, could be seen throughout the arena. Several supporters of the program also made donations.

For more information about OUTLIVE or to make a donation to cancer education, outreach and screening programs, call the UT Medical Center Office of Development at 865.305.6611.