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BC basketball officials launch annual Pink Whistle campaign for cancer research

Campaign raised a record $25,000 a year ago
Mark Booth
Mark Booth
pink whistle campaign
Even though though current provincial health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in no high school games this season, the BC Basketball Officials Association is proceeding with its annual Pink Whistle campaign that has raised over $85,000 to date for cancer research. Submitted

The games have stopped but cancer certainly hasn’t.

Under normal circumstances, the high school hoop season would be heading into the homestretch and the B.C. Basketball Officials Association would be launching its highly successful Pink Whistle campaign, an annual fundraiser for the B.C. Cancer Foundation. Last year’s drive raised a record $25,000, bringing the 11-year total to $86,579.

With the COVID-19 pandemic and the current provincial health restrictions making league, exhibition and tournament play impossible for the 2020-21 season, officials will not be able to create the usual awareness for their campaign.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

“COVID-19 has completely dented our on court basketball efforts for playing and fundraising as 2021 has no games scheduled yet,” said BCBOA Director of Administration and Ladner resident Karn Dhillon. “Cancer hasn't stopped and nor has it taken a ‘time-out’ because of COVID-19. As a group of committed referees, we wish to invite donations to our 2021 on-line campaign.”

The fundraiser drive is underway until Feb. 28 and donations can be made here via the BC Cancer Foundation website.