A local fundraising initiative known as Cougars 4 A Cure has raised nearly $100,000 over the last 4 years in contributions from students, parents, and Charlotte Catholic High School faculty and staff. In connection with last Friday’s CCHS Varsity basketball game against West Mecklenburg High School, Cougars 4 A Cure raised $32,000 (and counting). Donations benefit Levine Cancer Institute’s Carolinas Bladder Cancer Fund, which supports innovative bladder cancer research projects and tissue banking efforts underway at the Institute.
Cougars 4 A Cure was first organized by Charlotte Catholic High School Basketball Coach Andre Speech, and CCHS graduate and former student-coach, Matthew Salvino. With additional support from 5MPOWER– a local charitable foundation – Cougars 4 A Cure quickly became a school-wide fundraising effort. Cougars 4 A Cure has truly become a family-affair, with Mitchell Salvino, a CCHS sophomore and Charlotte Catholic basketball player, leading the charge that his older brother, Matthew, first helped to champion among his fellow CCHS teammates and classmates.
Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute is very fortunate to have these young philanthropists and school leaders as part of our ‘team’ at Atrium Health Foundation, working together to fight cancer in our community.
Pictured top (L-R): Charlotte Catholic High School Principal, Kurt Telford; Atrium Health Foundation President, Scott Kerr; CCHS Basketball Coach, Andre Speech; CCHS student athlete, Mitchell Salvino; Kris E. Gaston, MD, Surgical Oncologist at Levine Cancer Institute; and Edward S. Kim, MD, chair of Solid Tumor Oncology and Investigational Therapeutics at Levine Cancer Institute.
About the Carolinas Bladder Cancer Fund
The Carolinas Bladder Cancer Fund was started in 2012 with gifts from 5MPOWER. The organization continues to work with leaders from Levine Cancer Institute to identify opportunities to advance bladder cancer treatment, most notably through funding for innovative research projects.
Use this link to donate and learn more.