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Seventh annual event benefits cancer research and treatment in our community

CHAPEL HILL, NC – Two-time national champion and Hall of Fame Coach Roy Williams has raised more than a million dollars for cancer research with his Fast Break Against Cancer, a breakfast benefit kicking off the UNC men’s basketball season. This year, UNC alumnus and ESPN anchor Stuart Scott will provide keynote remarks, reflecting on his own battle with cancer.

Scott, who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1987, has been with ESPN since 1993 and his role and visibility have consistently grown. His use of unique catch-phrases, part of the ESPN SportsCenter tradition, has helped make him one of the network’s most popular and recognized anchors. Since 2008, he has been the lead host for the NBA on ESPN and ABC. For the past few years, Scott has served as the host for UNC’s season-opening event, Late Night with Roy.

Scott was honored by the V Foundation for Cancer Research with the 2011 Spirit of Jimmy V Award at the Jimmy V Golf Classic, held in August. The award, which pays tribute to the V Foundation’s late founder Jim Valvano, honors Scott’s dedication to the fight against cancer and the personification of Valvano’s “Don’t Ever Give Up” spirit. Scott, 46 is battling cancer for the second time. In 2007, doctors discovered a malignancy during an emergency appendectomy.

Fast Break Against Cancer will be held Friday, October 14th from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at Center Court in the Dean E. Smith Center. The event is made possible with the support of presenting sponsor Atlantic Packaging, as well as AT&T, Bank of America, The Carolina Inn, Curtis Media Group, GlaxoSmithKline, Grady-White, Long Beverage, Inc., Morgan Creek Capital Management, and Don and Billie Stallings.

Proceeds from the event will support cancer research, prevention and treatment programs in our community.

UNC Men’s Basketball assistant coaches participate and recently-retired “voice of the Tar Heels,” Woody Durham will serve as emcee and auctioneer. A special tribute to Durham will be held at the Carolina Inn on Thursday, October 13th at 6:30 p.m. to benefit UNC Lineberger. “A Toast to Woody” will be emceed by former center for the UNC men’s basketball team and radio analyst Eric Montross and UNC Associate Athletic Director Rick Steinbacher. There will be a few surprise guests in store for the toast (and maybe a little bit of roast)! It’s an evening Carolina fans will not want to miss.

Special ticket packages for both events are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://unclineberger.org/signature-events or call (919) 966-5905.