NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's basketball staff will wear sneakers with their suits this weekend as part of the national Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week. The initiative is run each year by the Coaches vs. Cancer program, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
 
The Spartan basketball staff will don white Nike sneakers with gold laces on Saturday when the Spartans host Bethune-Cookman at 6:30 p.m. at Joseph Echols Hall. NSU (4-2) has won three straight to move within a game of first place in the MEAC.
 
Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week is a nationwide event taking place from Jan. 23-29 where coaches and their staff wear sneakers with their suits while coaching games to raise awareness, share the importance of nutrition and physical activity, educate people about cancer screenings and early detection, and to promote the American Cancer Society as a place for people facing cancer to turn to for free information, help, and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 
Fans can help support the American Cancer Society by purchasing a specially designed pair of sneaker laces in memory of Lacey Holsworth, an eight-year-old basketball fan who died of cancer in 2014.  Laces will be available from all Shoe Carnival Stores and at www.shoecarnival.com/lacey. Funds will go to the American Cancer Society and Princess Lacey's Legacy to assist in the fight against pediatric cancer.
 
The Coaches vs. Cancer initiative leverages the personal experiences, community leadership and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to make a difference in the fight against cancer. The program seeks to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living among students, faculty and staff, fans and the community at large. Since its inception in 1993, the American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer initiative has raised more than $100 million to support the Society's mission.
 
After Saturday's contest, NSU will host North Carolina A&T on Monday at 8 p.m. The Spartans currently sit behind Morgan State (5-1), North Carolina Central (4-1) and Savannah State (5-2) in the standings.