Sampson holds Friday breakfast for cancer research

Six years ago, IU men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson dealt with something far more difficult than any Final Four loss.\nHis mother, Eva, had colon cancer.\n“It’s almost life-altering in some ways to go through that, especially with your mother,” Sampson said.\nSampson’s mother beat cancer, but many do not. That gave the second-year basketball coach a new perspective on the game, life and what he can do to help.\nThis Friday, Sampson will host the inaugural “Opening Day with Coach Sampson” event at Assembly Hall, a breakfast fundraiser associated with the American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer charity.\nAll proceeds from the $100-per-plate breakfast will go to the American Cancer Society of Monroe County.\n“Whatever we can do to raise money to help stamp out this horrible disease – cancer’s one of those diseases that directly or indirectly affects us all,” Sampson said.\nBrenda Davis, a five-year breast cancer survivor, is grateful Sampson hosts the event. She will speak at the breakfast. \n“There’s been Coaches vs. Cancer events throughout the United States, and I’ve just been waiting for IU to get involved in it,” Davis said.\nShe said she plans to talk about what the public can do to influence legislators as they make decisions about cancer issues – specifically funding for research.\n“I just turned 50 last week, and I didn’t think I would ever make it to 50,” Davis said, adding she would not have survived had it not been for recent medical advancements.\nThe event itself will last a couple hours and will jump start an exciting day for the IU basketball program. Assembly Hall will hold Hoosier Hysteria this Friday night. It is the team’s first official practice.\nThe Opening Day breakfast will be served at 6:30 a.m., followed by a short program at 7:30 where Sampson, Davis, former IU players and others will speak. \n“I realize 6:30 in the morning is pretty early – at least it is to me,” Sampson said with a small chuckle. “But that seems like the obvious way to go.”\nThere will also be a silent auction where guests can win a chance for a child to be ballboy or ballgirl, and one person will win the chance to be “coach for a day.” \nAs coach for a day, the winner will attend the pre-game meal, be present for the pre-game shootaround and sit near the team during the game. \n“I’d say if we’re behind at halftime, they get to coach the team the second half,” Sampson joked. “I’d be glad to slide over and let them have it.”\nSampson said he realizes there likely won’t be many students at the breakfast because of the price of the event, but he still encourages them to help out with the cause. \n“They can do a lot of things and be creative in what their fraternities and sororities can do to raise money,” Sampson said. “If they have ideas, I’d like to hear about them to see if we can get involved, too.”\nIt is too late to register for the breakfast, but the American Cancer Society encourages all those interested in helping to call the local office at 336-8423.