The Mike Slive Foundation is partnering with over 25 colleges and universities across the nation to raise awareness about prostate cancer and the importance of early detection during the months of February and March with their Block Cancer initiative.

“As a prostate cancer survivor, and someone who benefitted from early detection, I’m proud to be a part of the Block Cancer initiative the Mike Slive Foundation has organized,” said Advisory Board Member and Hall of Fame Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim. “I saw first-hand the time and effort my friend Mike Slive put into the battle against cancer. It’s an honor for our Syracuse team to participate in this program.”

The Block Cancer initiative partners with universities and colleges across the nation to bring awareness prostate cancer through a specially themed Block Cancer men’s basketball game. For many of the schools, the teams and coaches will wear blue Block Cancer apparel. During the game, fans will see signage and videos that focus on increasing awareness and education about prostate cancer and the importance of early detection. In addition, the Big Ten Conference and Conference USA will be highlighting Block Cancer during their conference championships in early March.

“We are excited to partner with so many incredible basketball programs across the country this year to put the spotlight on prostate cancer,” said Anna Slive Harwood, Executive Director of the Mike Slive Foundation. “Using the platform of college athletics to help raise awareness of prostate cancer was my father’s vision. We are grateful for the ongoing support, and welcome in so many new institutions, as we continue to educate men about their risks of prostate cancer and the importance of early detection. My father once said, ‘Cancer is a big-time ball game, and I’ll be damned if we’ll lose.’”

One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and a man dies of prostate cancer every 15 minutes. African American men are nearly 80% more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death (after lung cancer) for men. When detected early, prostate cancer is nearly 100% treatable.

The Mike Slive Foundation endeavors to become a global leader in the fight to eradicate prostate cancer through public awareness and research funding in memory of Mike Slive, a transformative leader whose vision and direction revolutionized the business of collegiate sports.

About the Mike Slive Foundation

The Mike Slive Foundation for Prostate Cancer Research was founded in Birmingham, Alabama, by attorney Ed Meyerson and former SEC and Conference USA Commissioner Mike Slive. Composed of local business, medical and political leaders, the Foundation’s mission is to save lives by funding cutting-edge research and by raising awareness of prostate cancer. The Mike Slive Foundation is a new weapon in the fight against prostate cancer. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @MikeSliveFdn.

Heather Jeffcoat
Director of PR & Social Media
(205) 515-1972
heather@champbranding.com