The Grand Valley State University Sport Leadership Club is set to host the third-annual Cancer Awareness Basketball Jam on Friday in the main Fieldhouse Arena, a fundraising event to help benefit those diagnosed with the disease.

The event began three years ago in memory of the late Dean Oliver Wilson from the Office of Multicultural Affairs. This year, it will feature a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, skills competition and dunk contest.

“The event was started by the student organization I.M.P.A.C.T. in 2010 and since has been hosted by the Sport Leadership Club,” said senior Lindsay Evens, vice president of internal affairs for the SLC. “Dean Wilson battled cancer for three years until he passed away in August of 2009. The first two years of the event were a flag football tournament, so this is the first year that it will be a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.”

While the format will be switching from the turf to the hardwood, the entire goal to not only increase awareness, but also raise money for cancer, remains the same.

“Through this event, we are fundraising for Hope Lodge of Grand Rapids,” said senior Ariel Wilkerson, president of the SLC. “This organization provides transportation and housing for cancer patients. For our student organization to put on an event like this, it is big.”

The Jam was originally scheduled for Jan. 27, only three weeks after returning from Winter Break, but the club pushed the date back to maximize participation.

“We pushed the date back to make sure the tournament lives up to our standards,” said sophomore Antonio Douthet, treasurer of the SLC. “We’re not going to throw a bad tournament and with more time, we were able to get some great things to give away, as well as get some good entertainment.”

The tournament is limited to 16 men’s teams and eight women’s teams, and each skills competition is limited to four participants. The team registration fee is $20, while the skills challenge and dunk contest fee are each $10, but is waived if already registered with a team. General admission to the event is $2.

Individuals and teams can register online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/BWLG8TL or also by contacting Evens at evensli@mail.gvsu.edu.

“We feel as though this is a good opportunity to help spread awareness and raise money for cancer,” Evens said. “This event really hits home because we are honoring a great dean from GVSU that was affected by cancer. It’s just a great experience and a great cause to be involved in.”

There will also be free food, prizes and giveaways at the Jam, which runs from 6 to 11 p.m.

“Everyone should come out in support of this event,” Wilkerson said. “You can think of it as a precursor event to Relay for Life. We have to thank Bobby Springer from the Office of Multicultural Affairs for allowing us to continue to put on this event and supporting us through it all.”

zsepanik@lanthorn.com