Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis Blackout Cancer jersey bid deadline is Monday at 8 p.m.
09/14/2018 | 10:14:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki fans have until Monday at 8 p.m. CT to place a jersey bid for the annual Salukis Blackout Cancer online auction. Saluki Athletics and Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) have once again teamed up for an event Footballscoop.com called "the best charity promotion in college football."
On Saturday, Sept. 29, Southern Illinois will wear commemorative black jerseys during its Family Weekend - Salukis Blackout Cancer game versus South Dakota. Fans are able to bid online for the namesake jerseys in honor of a friend or family member impacted by cancer. It's the fourth year proceeds from the jersey bidding will benefit the new SIH Cancer Institute, which opened earlier this year.Â
Former Saluki standout safety and Academic All-American Mike McElroy initiated the "Black Out Cancer" game at SIU in 2011. The Salukis were the first college football team in the nation to develop and implement the "Black Out Cancer" game, which has raised more than $225,000 for the SIH Cancer Institute. The top 102 bidders are matched with the player jersey of their choice.
"Mike's vision, and the ongoing partnership between SIU Athletics and the SIH Foundation has proven to create a lasting and significant benefit to cancer patients and the communities served by SIU and SIH across the region," said SIH Vice President of Community Affairs Woody Thorne.
This year's proceeds will benefit the Coach Kill Fund. Former Salukis head coach and current AD Jerry Kill and his wife, Rebecca, came to the SIH Foundation to establish a fund that would financially assist families and individuals coping with cancer and childhood diseases.Â
"I had stage 4 kidney cancer and I didn't have a very good percentage of living," Kill said. "I was going to St. Louis all the time (for treatment) and I wondered how underprivileged people that didn't have the finances I had, or what I didn't have when I was younger, how did these people make it?"
The fund is in a position to assist cancer patients demonstrating a financial need through an application process. The Coach Kill Fund is set up to assist with the following expenses while actively seeking treatment for cancer:
- Fuel expenses
- Co-pay expenses
- Cancer related medical bills
- Prescription assistance
- Nutritional needs
- Transportation costs
- Lodging needs
- Medical equipment related to cancer treatment
For more information on the Coach Kill Fund, history of the game and ways to bid, visit www.salukisblackoutcancer.com.
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - At UE Game Three (Audio Only)
Sunday, April 12
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - At UE Game Two (Audio Only)
Sunday, April 12
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - at UE Game 1 (Audio Only)
Saturday, April 11
4.9.26 | Baseball Weekend Preview - at Evansville
Thursday, April 09