COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland and Maryland men's and women's basketball head coach Mark Turgeon and Brenda Frese hosted the Coaches vs. Cancer Season Tip-Off Breakfast Tuesday morning in conjunction with the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The Coaches vs. Cancer program was created in 1993 by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The program exists to leverage the strength, community leadership and celebrity of our country's basketball coaches to fight cancer.
Joining Turgeon and Frese as speakers were Dr. Ray Lenhard, Professor Emeritus of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and Joe Glowacki, a team manager for the women's basketball program.
Frese shared her family's story of her son Tyler's fight with leukemia at a young age. Tyler celebrated his five-years cancer-free mark in May and Frese shared with the group how the experience has helped her appreciate life.
“As you go through anything like this, it's going to change you," Frese shared. “It's made me a better coach. It's slowed me down. Coaches always have checklists and are always thinking of what's next, but it's helped me appreciate the present. It's made me enjoy my team, alumni and my family in the present.”
Maryland women's basketball manager, Joe Glowacki, spoke with the group about his family's journey and support system as his brother, Will, has fought brain cancer twice.
“Over the course of time, we realized there was one thing we could control,” Glowacki said. “We could control our fight. We decided to be strong. That's easier said than done. Where does the strength come from? The incredible people we've been surrounded by.”
The Maryland women's basketball staff wears St. Jude pins to show their support for Will.
Turgeon engaged with those in attendance in a packed Heritage Hall Tuesday morning, including John and Christine Lederer, the parents of Zach Leerer, a former Maryland men's basketball manager who lost a heroic battle with brain cancer in March, 2014.
“This a wonderful group of supports and friends and we so very appreciate all you all talking the time for this very important initiative,” Turgeon said. “We raised $45,000 at this breakfast and every dollar counts to fight cancer, raise awareness and have the opportunity to share more stories about brave and successful survivors.”
The Coaches vs. Cancer breakfast at the University of Maryland was started in 2002 by Gary Dando, who worked with former Hallof Fame head coach Gary Williams. Since its inception 13 years ago, over $475,000 has been raised for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer program.
