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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus is buzzing with anticipation as the beginning of basketball season approaches this Friday, October 25. And the Tar Heels are kicking it off with support for UNC Lineberger.

Roy Williams and Woody Durham at Fast Break Against Cancer

Coach Williams, his assistant coaches, and legendary Tar Heel broadcaster Woody Durham will start the 2013-2014 men’s basketball season with Fast Break Against Cancer, a seated breakfast and one-of-a-kind live auction event in the Dean E. Smith Center Friday morning. The annual event, presented by Atlantic Packaging, will feature Bill Cowher, former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the headline speaker.

And support for cancer research and outreach continues throughout the evening during Late Night with Roy, UNC’s annual kickoff event for the basketball season. As Tar Heel fans flood into the Smith Center for Friday night’s event, volunteers with Be The MatchSM will be outside encouraging everyone to join the national bone marrow registry. The Be The MatchSM Registry offers people the opportunity to help a patient by registering to be a potential donor of bone marrow or stem cells. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 who meets the health guidelines and is willing to donate to any patient in need may join the registry.

During Late Night festivities, fans will also be able to cheer on UNC students participating in Coach Williams’ Half-Court Shot to Sink Cancer. Twelve students will take the half-court line for a shootout during Late Night. For every shot made Coach Williams will personally donate $1000 to UNC Lineberger and contribute additional funds for shots that hit the rim. Students were selected from a campus-wide scavenger hunt with clues provided on Twitter.