Blackout Games Raise More Than $12,000 for Local Cancer Patients

The SIU Men and Women’s basketball teams looked a little different on the court at Banterra Center in late February. The players wore special jerseys during the annual Blackout Cancer games.

The Blackout Cancer fundraiser is a longtime partnership between the SIH Foundation and Saluki Athletics. More than two dozen Saluki fans donated nearly $12,000 to the Coach Kill Cancer Fund through jersey bids. Winning bidders got to honor those impacted by cancer with special names on player jerseys like Curman, Rylee, Dr Hanson, Lt Massie and Slam just to name a few.

The Salukis honored those donors at halftime of the games on Feb. 16 and 22. After the games donors got to take photos with the player wearing their jersey.

The Coach Kill Cancer fund assists cancer patients at the SIH Cancer Institute and throughout the southern 16 counties of Illinois who are actively seeking treatment and demonstrate a financial need. The fund helps with a wide range of expenses from fuel costs to prescription assistance.

The SIH Foundation also sold paper jerseys at the games which allowed more donors to write the names of a loved one on those jerseys which are now on display at the SIH Cancer Institute.

You can give to the SIH Founation's efforts anytime. Contact the foundation here.