By SHELBA NIVENS / Community Columnist

A lot of exciting events to benefit the American Cancer Society will take place at Chelsea High School during this first semester of the new school year.

“Our big event,” said Coach Wayne Trucks, “is our Hoops for Hope basketball tournament December 29-31. We will host eight teams (including Chelsea)”

The other seven are Calera, Childersburg, Cordova, Fort Payne, John Carroll, Montevallo and Pleasant Grove.

“We are currently asking for sponsors for our cross country and girls’ basketball teams,” the coach said. “Both teams are working hard to raise funds.”

For a $75 donation, names of sponsors will be listed on season T-shirts, identifying them as supporting the groups’ efforts to fight cancer.

This involves a total of 300 shirts, including shirts worn for the Hoops for Hope Basketball Tournament, he said.

For a small donation, names of survivors, as well as those who lost the struggle with cancer, will be mentioned during timeouts and between games.

There will be a hospitality room for survivors, along with coaches and officials.

Other Cancer Society fundraisers include a student-faculty game sometime before winter break and an Ekklesia Coffee House gift card sale.

Members of the girls’ basketball team and cross country runners will sell the gift cards for $10 each with a portion of the proceeds going to the Cancer Society.

“We are looking for a sponsor to help with a Doughnut Dash to be held during homecoming week,” Trucks said. He explained that participants will run laps around a designated course, stopping after each lap to eat a donut. Runners eating a whole dozen will win a small prize.

Each participant will elicit sponsors who will donate money in the runner’s name.

“Last year we donated over $5,000 (to the American Cancer Society) through Hoops for Hope,” Trucks said. “We hope to increase that amount this year.”

For more information, may email Coach Trucks at WTrucks@Shelbyed.k12.al.us.

Shelba Nivens can be reached by email at Shelbasn@juno.com.