Cancer Research Classic tips off

Saturday, January 2nd 2016 —

OHIO COUNTY, WV – The 9th annual Cancer Research Classic is a win-win for the Ohio Valley. Not only is it good for the health of the people and the economy, it also provides pure entertainment.

The CRC is the nation’s premiere catholic high school basketball tournament held at Wheeling Jesuit University in the McDonough center, in conjunction with Wheeling Hospital. Dr. Gregory Merrick is the director of the tournament, and uses the “celebrity” of basketball to draw in a big crowd, all to benefit men’s health. Thousands passed vendors line up offering health care screenings, and information as they went to their seats to watch some of the nation’s top teams battle it out on the court. “Our vendors out there are doing a great job; our residents are doing a great job. We as men live 7-8 years less than women because we don’t get preventative care,” said Merrick.

Troy Aleman was one of those vendors at Saturday’s tournament providing information on a new way to test for colon cancer without the hassle of getting a colonoscopy. Aleman said how great it was to have an event like the CRC tournament as a way to reach out to residents. “Not a lot of organizations hold systems like this to open a gateway to patients in this type of setting and format, so I think it’s going to be a phenomenal system to have in the future.”

Citizens benefit from the tournament, but so does the economy. Merrick says the flow of traffic to the Wheeling area is something that continues well after the tournament is over. “Last year we had fans from 16-17 states, 2 foreign countries – so we have people coming in, seeing what we have to offer here at Jesuit, the city of Wheeling, the upper Ohio Valley, Oglebay to come back in the summer and play golf. It’s just great for all of us.”

The tournament is a nationally known event that is broadcasted on ESPN3. Merrick says he and his team are proud of the reputation the tournament is receiving. In reference to the tournament shirts many of the players and volunteers wear, Merrick said, “When I see these shirts at the U.S. Olympic trials, and I see these shirts on the west coast – it really makes you proud of what our whole team has been able to accomplish.”

All proceeds from the tournament go to cancer research and men’s health awareness, as well as undergraduate scholarships at Wheeling Jesuit University.

Cancer Research Classic tips off