MEADVILLE, Pa. -- As part of the nationwide programming to raise cancer awareness, Allegheny College head men's basketball coach Bob Simmons and the Gators have dedicated Wednesday's game against Geneva College to Coaches vs. Cancer.

Coaches vs. Cancer is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). This initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of coaches to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. Since 1993, coaches have raised over $145 million for the American Cancer Society.

The theme of this year's event is "Set the Screen" to promote the importance of regular cancer screenings. Screenings increase the chances of early detection, making it easier to treat certain cancers and help save lives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer screenings decreased by as much as 94% and currently remain below historical averages by as much as 25%.

The NABC also sponsors Suits and Sneakers Week as part of its Coaches vs. Cancer programming. On Wednesday, however, Simmons and his staff will be dressed in pink in honor of his late mother, Vita Simmons.

Below is a personal story Simmons has shared about Coaches vs. Cancer and why he is unable to wear sneakers with a suit:

As many of you know, this is a cause that is very personal for me and my family. Many of you have heard the story about my mom and Suits and Sneakers Week. For those of you that don't know, I'll give you the short version.

Several years ago, the head coach that I worked for at the time, Billy Taylor, asked about participating in the NABC's Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers. I explained that I could not, because when I talked with my mom about this event, she told me she raised me better than to wear sneakers with a suit. Finally, she relented and agreed to let me wear khakis and a polo shirt, though it was not her favorite look.

On October 19, 2020, after my mom's 18-year battle with cancer, she passed away peacefully here in Meadville at the Marquette Hospice House. At the time of her diagnosis, she was given six months to live. She looked her doctor in the eyes and told him, "that was not good enough and to figure something out," because she had "a lot left to do." She never once complained about her illness, nor did she ever ask why this happened to her. She always told us it was meant to be. She simply kept fighting to live the life that she wanted.

I miss her more than words can express. I think about her every day and I talk with her every night. She loved our family so much. She would love how her two granddaughters have grown into the young women they are - Hanah is getting ready to graduate from Allegheny College and head into the medical profession, and Izzy is getting ready to head into high school and cooks up a storm in the kitchen. She also loved our men's basketball family. She always asked how "our boys" were doing. She had my sister make sure her laptop was charged so she could watch the games, and she was the first one to text me after every game. I miss those text messages from her. She touched so many people and inspired us all to keep fighting, refuse to lose, and not complain.

Therefore, the more awareness we can bring to the cause, the closer we can get to finding a cure for this terrible disease and saving our loved ones. We all must continue to fight as my mom did so bravely for all those years.

Refuse to Lose,



For more information about Coaches vs. Cancer, please visit nabc.com/cvc.