Participating NABC member coaches and coaching staff will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their usual game attire during weekend games to show support for the American Cancer Society and the fight against cancer.
Thompson will be wearing a pair of specially-designed Jordan sneakers.
By wearing sneakers with their suits, participating coaches are drawing attention to the fact that while cancer remains a major health concern, there are steps we can all take each day to reduce our risk: for those who don't smoke, weight control, exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to improve health and reduce cancer risk. Obesity has been shown to increase the risk for many forms of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancers, and may account for 20% of cancer deaths in women and 14% in men. But according to a 2006 survey, more than 80% of people know about the link between overweight and heart disease, while only 8% understand the fact that excess weight is tied so strongly to cancer risk. Overweight and obesity are of particular concern in minority populations, with higher rates of both reported for Hispanic men and women and African American women than for non-Hispanic white adults.
