By Brent Crossman

In 1982 my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 12 years old and did not really have any idea what my mother was going through. Her only option back then was a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
After her surgery and treatments, my mother survived breast cancer. In December of this past year, my mother again was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Last week she had successful breast cancer surgery and is on her way to successfully beating cancer again.
To honor her 34 years as a breast cancer survivor and to all those who have won or lost their battle with cancer, the 10th annual Hooping For A Cure staff vs. students basketball game fundraiser will be held March 5 at 6 p.m. at the Charlotte High School Dome.
We are asking all cancer survivors to please come to the game so we can honor your courage of beating this awful disease.
Hooping For A Cure t-shirts are being sold for $10 to raise money for cancer research. They are available at all Charlotte Public School main offices. The sizes are youth small to 3XL. If you buy a shirt, you will get into the basketball game for free. There will be many groups performing at halftime, including The Dance Conservatory dance team and the Charlotte drum line. We will also honor all cancer survivors and remember all of those who have lost the battle.
Between quarters of the game we will have a half court shooting contest for free pizzas and a raffle of MSU autographed merchandise. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000.
If you have any questions, please call (517) 652-9853 or email at crossmbc@charlottenet.org.
Brent Crossman is a teacher at Charlotte High School, member of the Relay for Life of Charlotte committee and creator of Hooping For A Cure.