07/30/2008 - 18:18
Shoot for the Cure '08: A Success
by Eric Everett

For the second consecutive year, Rashad paid respect to his home town of Asheville, North Carolina, by doing his part to give something back to the community.

From July 25 to 27 at the Bele Chere Festival, Rashad hosted "Shoot for the Cure," his annual fundraiser benefitting breast cancer-related programs and local area charities.

Rashad with his sister, Rashanda, and mother Brenda.

Rashad’s mother, Brenda McCants, is a breast cancer survivor and works closely with the Sisters Network, Inc. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Sisters Network as well as Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Western North Carolina. The Bele Chere is widely recognized as one of the Southeast’s largest, free, outdoor festivals in the Southeast with an attendance of over 350,000.

Rashad and a young fan at Shoot for the Cure.

The Shoot for the Cure fundraising event took place at the Coxe Ave parking lot starting Friday, July 25. Each day throughout the weekend, one lucky participant was offered the chance to win $10,000 by making one qualifying half-court shot, and then repeating the shot at Sunday’s finals. Also available throughout the contest hours were autographed memorabilia for raffle, as well as other prizes from Spalding and Nike.

Rashad was on hand to coach and interact with the participants.

On Monday July 28, Rashad also hosted a Feed The Children event, which distributed food to over 400 families in need. Shoot for the Cure partner Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Feed the Children pre-identified all 400 families, who received a 25 pound box of food and a box of personal care items. The donation took place from 10am-12pm at Sam’s Club, located at 645 Patton Avenue.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest youth mentoring organization in western North Carolina. With programs in eight counties across the region, the agency assisted 621 children in 2007 through mentoring friendships. As an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the organization utilizes best practices for mentoring and positive youth development. Independent research shows that its model of professionally supported mentoring relationships between young people and their Big Brothers and Big Sisters has a measurable, positive impact.
For more information, please visit www.bbbswnc.org.

Little Brother Kodaah and his Big Brother Ken with Rashad.

About Sisters Network, Inc
Sisters Network® Inc. (SNI) is the leading voice and only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization in the United States. SNI promotes the importance of breast health through empowerment, support, breast education programs, resources, information, and research. Membership is 3000, which includes over 40 affiliate chapters nationwide. The organization’s purpose is to save lives and provide a broader scope of knowledge that addresses the breast cancer survivorship crisis affecting African American women around the country. As a nationally recognized organization among leading medical establishments and breast cancer physicians, Sisters Network is also recognized as a critical information resource for African American women.

About Feed The Children
Founded in 1979 by Larry and Frances Jones, Feed The Children is consistently ranked as one of the 10 largest international charities in the U.S., based on private, non-government support. Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disasters.. Since its founding, the organization has reached out to help those in need in 118 countries around the globe. For more information, please visit www.feedthechildren.org.

Rashad helping to raise $40,000 for Feed The Children.

About Bele Chere
Bele Chere is widely recognized as one of the Southeast’s largest, free, outdoor festivals in the Southeast with an attendance of over 350,000. Bele Chere is produced by the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Bele Chere Board of Directors. For complete Bele Chere events listings, please visit www.belecherefestival.com.

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