The City College men and women’s basketball programs are lacing up to help battle cancer Wednesday for the team’s annual Coaches vs. Cancer game against Oxnard in the Santa Barbara Sports Pavilion.

The men’s team plays at 5 p.m. and the women at 7 p.m., with all proceeds for the game being donated to the American Cancer Society. The game is especially meaningful to City College women’s basketball head coach Sandrine Krul, whose life has been touched by the disease.

“Personally, the game means a lot to me because both of my parents died from cancer,” Krul said. “And my sister and brother-in-law are both five years in remission of colon cancer and lymphoma.”

The program is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball coaches aimed to raise funds and promote cancer awareness.

According to the Coaches vs. Cancer website, the program has contributed to treating existing cancer patients, as well as helped to find a cure for the disease by raising over $87 million for the American Cancer Society to date. Athletes from over 4,000 different programs across the nation participate.

“We feel blessed to be a part of a game that helps to support such an important worldwide cause,” said men’s freshman forward Wallace Baker-Mason.

The game will be held Feb. 4 in observance of World Cancer Day. This year the date is even more significant for Krul because it is the day her sister-in-law is having surgery to treat her colon cancer.

“This game just means a lot to me personally and to know that we are helping cancer research is rewarding and humbling,” said Krul.

Krul said she believes it is especially important for younger generations to get involved because they could have the biggest impact of all on our fight against the disease. According to cancer.org, the current odds of men and women developing cancer during their lifetime is about 43 percent and 38 percent, respectively.

“It is a disease that affects us all,” Krul said. “Cancer does not discriminate.”