Oak Hills High School and Elder High School use their rivalry basketball game to raise money for cancer. John Blackwell, the owner of the organization ‘Cincy Shoots for a Cure’, reached out to Coach Price, the varsity basketball coach and the athletic directors and asked to partner with them to raise money for cancer. Coach Price accepted and chose the game where Oak Hills plays Elder as the best choice for raising money for Cancer.
The Elder vs. Oak Hills varsity basketball game is held on January 27th at 7:30pm. Oak Hills is hosting the matchup this year. As a result of partnering with ‘Cincy Shoot for a Cure’, t-shirts are being sold to raise money for the organization to put towards Cancer studies. There are two t-shirt options: a purple one for containing Elder’s name and a basketball, and a red option with Oak Hills name and a basketball with it as well. Each individual shirt will cost 18 dollars. Shirts can be picked up by students at Oak Hills on Monday, January 26th and the 27th during school or before the start of the game. Each purchased shirt is another 18 dollars that goes towards cancer dedicated research.
Blackwell used his passion for basketball from coaching and playing to create fundraising for a major cause. His organization began in hopes that it would be known around the tri-state area, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana as something that will make a huge profit for cancer research.
Blackwell has shown major success within the last year in expanding his organization and becoming well known around the tri-state area. With the help of social media, coaches from other schools, and athletic directors, there are about 21 upcoming basketball games all striving for the same goal.
Blackwell mentions that, “ Mike Price is one of the best coaches in the city”. Blackwell continues by discussing the eagerness to participate in one of these games by Price shows his love for the sport. This game would not be possible without the support of Price and Ben Hageman and Karen Swanger, both members of the athletic directors at Oak Hills High School.
The Oak Hills and Elder rivalry never fails to fill the stands with a crowd that is ready to cheer on their team. Those who have family members that are battling or have survived cancer have the chance to honor those and have their loved one mentioned during the game. The theme will be red out for Oak Hills and Purple out for Elder. Overall, this is the game to be at and support the fight against cancer and cheer on the Highlanders.
