University of Tennessee Athletics
Coach Bruce Pearl's OUTLIVE 2010 to Benefit Cancer Patients
January 11, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2010
Order Your OUTLIVE T-Shirt Today
Through OUTLIVE, Tennessee Fights to Beat Cancer, UT men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl plans to raise at least $1 million in the next five years to directly benefit cancer patients treated at The University of Tennessee Medical Center Cancer Institute, the coach announced today during his weekly press conference.
Pearl's announcement kicked off the 2010 OUTLIVE campaign, which culminates in an "orange out" with Vol fans wearing their OUTLIVE t-shirts and filling Thompson Boling Arena with orange during the Vols Feb. 27 home game against Kentucky.
"The University of Tennessee Medical Center's Cancer Institute obviously has a special meaning to us," Pearl said. "When detected in its earliest stages and with proper care, cancer is treatable. We can beat this. I hope all Tennessee fans will buy an OUTLIVE t-shirt and help us in our fight against cancer."
Pearl initiated the OUTLIVE program in 2009. A graduate assistant with the team, Brooks Savage, created the concept in recognition of former Vol star Chris Lofton, who beat testicular cancer through early diagnosis and treatment and went on to play the entire 2007-2008 season while recovering from his battle with the disease. Inspired by Lofton's story, OUTLIVE raises awareness of cancer prevention and detection while t-shirt sales and donations raise money to benefit cancer patients.
"We are fortunate and honored to join with coach Pearl and the UT Athletics family to raise awareness of the challenges we face in the search for resolving cancer as a health care problem that affects all of us and our families," said Dr. John L. Bell, Director of the UT Medical Center Cancer Institute. "We are committed to continuing our mission of research, education and care for our patients fighting the battle against cancer. The monies raised through OUTLIVE will be utilized for the construction, renovation and expansion of Cancer Institute facilities on the UT Medical Center campus to improve the care for cancer patients and their families."
You can help coach Pearl and UT Medical Center fight cancer by purchasing an OUTLIVE t-shirt or by donating to OUTLIVE. T-shirts are available at www.utoutlive.org or at participating Walgreen's stores, Tennessee Traditions (Turkey Creek or at the Stokely Athletic Center on the UT campus) and at UT men's and women's basketball games. Short sleeve tees cost $20 and long sleeve tees cost $22. Adult and children sizes are available. For more information about OUTLIVE or to donate, call the UT Medical Center Office of Development at (865) 305-6611.
Coach Pearl also is calling on UT fans to make a strong statement in the fight against cancer by wearing their OUTLIVE shirts to the February 27 Kentucky game. The coach hopes all the OUTLIVE shirts will create a stunning vision, creating an "orange-out" effect during the game and showing the commitment of Tennessee fans toward advancing cancer treatment and research. In its inaugural year in 2009, OUTLIVE raised more than $93,000 and helped the UT Medical Center Cancer Institute provide more than 2,500 free cancer screenings throughout East Tennessee.
The Cancer Institute at The University of Tennessee Medical Center serves as the region's only comprehensive cancer service that meets its patients' needs in one location. Approximately 1,800 new cases of cancer are diagnosed and treated at UT Medical Center's Cancer Institute every year and the doctors, nurses and specialists see more than 50,000 annual patient visits. The Cancer Institute participates in a wide array of cancer clinical trials and is involved in basic science, translational and clinical research to find a cure.
The mission of The University of Tennessee Medical Center is to serve through healing, education and discovery. UT Medical Center, a 581-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center, serves as a referral center for Eastern Tennessee, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina. The medical center, the region's only Level I Trauma Center, is one of the largest employers in Knoxville. For more information about the University of Tennessee Medical Center, visit online at www.utmedicalcenter.org.
