Talawanda will be taking on a bigger opponent than just the Edgewood Cougars in next week’s boys’ basketball game when the school hosts a Coaches vs. Cancer event.

It will be an evening filled with plenty of fun for everyone with a serious purpose — taking aim at cancer.

The basketball game Feb. 1 will feature the Braves and longtime rival Edgewood, but there will also be a raffle, silent auction, split the pot and a performance by the Mason Firecrackers jump rope team.

The athletic department is teaming up with the Talawanda High School/Butler Tech FCCLA Chapter to put on the event, which will have former Miami University head men’s basketball coach Charlie Coles as honorary master of ceremonies.

Money raised for the evening will go to the local American Cancer Society chapter to further their work with research and helping those affected by the disease.

Sharon R. Gregory, adviser to the school’s FCCLA chapter, said the Ohio FCCLA Cancer Campaign is one of the organization’s five state projects.

“This is also a great opportunity to promote a program that benefits an organization that promotes awareness about a disease that effects so many,” Gregory said, adding that Talawanda chapter members Megan McCracken and Dana Stumph are co-chairing the Coaches vs. Cancer event. “They, along with fellow FCCLA members are gathering donations for raffle items and silent auction that will take place the evening of the event. The members have made posters, fliers and other promotional items for the event. Students will be working the night of the event to sell split the pot, raffle tickets and manning the silent auction.”

The evening will start with the freshman game at 4:30, followed by the junior varsity game then the varsity game at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Coaches will be wearing sneakers for the evening which is part of the Coaches vs. Cancer tradition. The popular Firecrackers team will perform at halftime. They appear regularly at college games and other venues including a recent appearance at Miami University.

Gregory said the support for the project has been strong and many nice prizes had already been donated last week with more still being sought.

“We have the full support of the athletic department, Athletic Director Jason Grunkemeyer, the basketball players and coaches,” she said. “Charlie Coles has been asked to be an honorary MC that night since he is so familiar with the event, as it is done on the college level, and Mr. and Mrs. Coles were honored this year at the Coaches vs. Cancer kickoff event hosted by the American Cancer Society as being such great supporters.”

Donations are still being collected and anyone wanting to help can call Gregory at 513-273-3200, ext. 3164 or email gregorys@butlertech.org.

Among the items already received are spirit wear from Lebowski’s, a Vera Bradley bag from Appletree, meals from Skyline, sunglasses from both Family Vision Center and Oxford Opticians, a basket from Thacker Photography, gift card from Fiesta Chara, a on e-night stay at Hampton Inn, a scrapbook basket from FCCLA, a spirit basket including a family pass for THS from FCCLA and the Athletic Department, spirit wear from the THS freshman class, as well as a gift from Collectable Works and jewelry.

Oxford Larosa’s is donating 20 percent from any purchases by fans who go in after the games with a ticket stub to the cause.