MONROE, La. –The ULM men's and women's basketball coaching staffs are joining fellow coaching staffs throughout the country in trading their dress shoes for basketball sneakers as part of Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week during this week's games.
Also this season, the coaching staffs will lace up their sneakers with a special pair of Princess Lacey's Laces, in memory of 8-year-old Lacey Holsworth, who was an avid basketball fan. She formed a close bond with former Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne, and he became a close friend, visiting her at the hospital and inviting her to games.
In addition, the Sun Belt Conference is coming together to raise awareness and donations in support of Appalachian State women's basketball head coach Angel Elderkin's fight against endometrial cancer at this week's women's games on Thursday and Saturday.
The nationwide Suits and Sneakers Week unites basketball coaches across the country for a common cause – saving lives from cancer. Coaching staffs wear sneakers with their suits while coaching games to raise awareness about the fight against cancer, share the importance of nutrition and physical activity in reducing one's risk of the disease and promote the American Cancer Society as a place for people facing cancer to turn for free information, help, and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Warhawk head coaches Keith Richard and Jeff Dow, along with their staffs, will wear black and peach colored t-shirts during warm ups and prior to tip off of games to show their unity in support of Elderkin. The ULM women host Little Rock on Thursday (6:00 p.m.) and both teams square off against Arkansas State on Saturday afternoon (2:00 p.m./4:30 p.m.) inside Fant Ewing Coliseum.
More information about Appalachian State head coach Angel Elderkin and the Sun Belt Conference initiative can be found here.
Additional information about Coaches vs. Cancer can be found here, and information about purchasing a pair of Princess Lacey's Laces can be found here.
