The women's and men's basketball coaches of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) will once again be taking part in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches vs. Cancer Awareness Week as well as the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) "Think Pink" initiative in February. Saturday, February 13 has been set aside as a day of cancer awareness in the GPAC.

The most noticeable items will be that coaches will participate in the "Suits and Sneakers" and/or the "Think Pink" promotion.

"Suits and Sneakers" is a national event that is designed to raise awareness about Coaches vs. Cancer and the importance of cancer prevention and early detection. Coaches and coaching staffs are encouraged to wear white sneakers with their suits while coaching games during this week to remind college basketball audiences about the many ways people can reduce their risk of cancer, such as eating right, exercising, making healthy lifestyle choices, and following the American Cancer Society's recommended cancer screening guidelines.

"Think Pink" is a promotion that is sponsored by the WBCA. "Think Pink" initiative is a global, unified effort for the WBCA nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. Some coaches will wear pink clothing, while other schools in the country are wearing pink warm-up shirts among other pink items.

Officials in the country have also become involved in raising cancer awareness by using pink whistles in their "Calling for a Cure" campaign.

GPAC schools are encouraged to do promotions on their own that raise awareness and benefit their local chapters of the American Cancer Society.

"The GPAC is looking forward to once again participating in this program and helping to raise awareness in the fight against cancer," said GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra. "All of us know someone, sometimes close friends, who are in the fight against cancer and this campaign is one way to honor them and continue to raise awareness."