Pittsburgh Steelers Take to the Hoops for the 14th Annual Hoops For A Cure on March 27, 2009

Pittsburgh, March 5, 2009 — The 14th “Hoops For A Cure” charity basketball game on Friday, March 27 will help support the research of UPCI Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, and Immunoprevention Program co-leader Olivera Finn, PhD. Basketball games will feature all-star talent from the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The event, which takes place at Chartiers Valley High School in Bridgeville (get directions), has raised over $1,000,000 for research since its launch. In 2009, organizers hope to raise $100,000 through tickets and raffles which include Super Bowl tickets, autographed sports memorabilia, and door prizes. The Section 4 All-Stars vs. the WPIAL All-Stars will play in the first game, beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Steelers vs. Chartiers Valley Alumni and Special Guests in the final game of the evening at 8 p.m. Admission is $7, with children under 3 admitted free of charge.

Much of Dr. Finn’s current research is focused towards the development of a pancreatic cancer vaccine. In February 2009, her group was given FDA approval to test the vaccine in healthy people who carry a high risk of developing cancer. Pancreatic cancer is very difficult to treat, but the hope is that innovative vaccines, like those developed by Dr. Finn’s group, will be able to stop pre-cancerous conditions from becoming cancer, and thus stop the disease before it becomes a danger. Research of this type is a long and costly process, and support from Hoops For A Cure provides invaluable aid to Dr. Finn’s innovative research.

For more information about Hoops For A Cure and the Nathan S. Arenson Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research, please visit their website. For more information about giving to research at UPCI and UPMC Cancer Centers, please visit our Giving Department’s website.

# # #