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Las Cruces-Area Legislators Help In The Fight Against Cancer

The New Mexico Senate “Lobos” took on the House of Representatives “Aggies” recently at Santa Fe High School. The hotly-contested game was a fun event for those on the court, on the bench and in the stands. But everyone knows that the real opponent is cancer.

Local legislators participated in the event, including Bill McCamley, representative from district 33, Angelica Rubio, representative from district 35, and Nathan P. Small, representative from district 36.

The 2017 “Hoops 4 Hope” legislative basketball game raised $30,486 for the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.  The Senate “Lobos” team, coached by Bob Davie (UNM football coach), won the game with a final score of 36, and the House “Aggies” team, coached by Mike Jordan (NMSU volleyball coach), was close behind with a score of 29.

The annual game is an important source of private donations for The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center. Over the past six years, it has raised more than $100,000. “The proceeds help us to deliver the cutting-edge, compassionate care that all New Mexicans deserve,” says Cheryl Willman, MD, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center Director & CEO. This year, the American Cancer Society expects more than 1,000 New Mexicans to receive a diagnosis of cancer and nearly 3,700 to die from it.

The UNM Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of the state of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute designated cancer center in the state. It is tasked with ensuring that all New Mexicans have access to world-class cancer care and benefit from advances in cancer research. The UNM Cancer Center raises money for cancer research and treatment from national and state grant programs and from private donations.

For the annual Hoops 4 Hope game, the legislature divides into the Senate and House teams instead of along party lines. This division gives the legislators a chance to know people from the other party. The House has won a total of 13 games, but the Senate has won the last four in a row. Last year’s game ended 32-29 in a double overtime thriller.

Questions may be addressed to the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center Development Office at 505-272-4443 or email Hoops4Hope@salud.unm.edu.