AHC Athletics to Partner with Raising Cane's for Annual Carney's Coaches vs. Cancer Game on Feb. 8

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - In an effort to raise awareness and find a cure, as well as to honor survivors and those who lost their battles with cancer, Allan Hancock College Athletics will be hosting the annual Carney's Coaches vs. Cancer event for the first time since the pandemic began. The event is scheduled to take place inside of the Joe White Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday, February 8th, as the Bulldogs host Moorpark College. The women's game is scheduled to tip-off at 5 PM, followed by the men's game at 7 PM. 

The Bulldogs will also be partnering with Raising Cane's in an effort to expand the reach of the event. The local establishment, located at 485 Betteravia Road, will donate 15% of each order placed between 4-10 PM on February 8th when the Coaches vs. Cancer event is mentioned at checkout. 

"Every family, one way or another, has been affected by this disease. The Hancock family, including the athletics department, has been impacted," said Hancock Athletic Director Kim Ensing. "The college wants to do its part to make a difference in this battle by raising awareness and helping support cancer research and local services in our community."

This marks the 10th annual Coaches vs. Cancer event hosted by the Bulldogs on the Hancock campus. The event was renamed in honor of Larry Carney, a former women's basketball assistant coach, in 2015. The Central Coast legend was first diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was 49 years old and is a four-time cancer survivor. His road to treatment over the years has included hormone therapy, radiation, chemotherapy, and a trip to the Netherlands for a Combidex scan. Carney has lost both his father and his brother to cancer and has donated more than $12,000 to Mission Hope and the American Cancer Society in memory of his family over the last few years.

"Coaches vs. Cancer is a national event, but my brother and I decided long ago that we didn't want to give to the national organization and instead wanted to make sure it stayed local," Carney said. "I grew up in this town — this is my hometown. I've lived here almost all of my life and I know everybody, so I want to keep it local to serve the people we know and work with every day."

All proceeds from ticket sales and concession sales from the Coaches vs. Cancer event, along with the donation from Raising Cane's, will be sent to the Marian Medical Center's Mission Hope Cancer Center.