D'YOUVILLE MEN'S BASKETBALL GOLD GAME HELPS IN BATTLE AGAINST PEDIATRIC CANCER

As part of their effort to battle the impact of pediatric cancer, the D'Youville College men's basketball team put on their annual Gold Game in support of the Go 4 the Goal Foundation.

The D'Youville and Penn State-Altoona men's basketball teams both supported the Go 4 the Goal Foundation by sporting gold shoelaces for their game on Saturday, January 5. In total, the men raised $350 for the foundation through their donation page with all proceeds going to help the fight against pediatric cancer.

The Go 4 the Goal Foundation was founded in 2006 following Richard Stefanacci's diagnosis with a rare type of bone cancer. Richard lost his battle with cancer before his 15th birthday, inspiring the foundation's beginnings. Several years later, Richard's cousin Blake was diagnosed with another rare form of cancer. However, Blake is fully healthy and has been a five-year survivor of cancer.

D'Youville has put on their Gold Game for each of the previous three seasons, raising over $1,000 for Go 4 the Goal. Head coach Earl Schunk has been in charge of the Spartan's men's basketball program for eight seasons and helped institute the Gold Game into the team's culture.

"We put on this game because we were all young once and we all had dreams then," said Schunk. "It is important for us to do everything we can to allow children everywhere to make their dreams come true much like we have been able to by being involved with the sport we love."

You can continue to donate to the men's basketball team and the Go 4 the Goal Foundation at their donation page.