By Harry Minium

If you're a caring person who gives generously to good causes, then bring some cash or a check with you when you head out to the Old Dominion University men's basketball game Saturday night against UTEP.

Use a credit card to pay for nachos, hot dogs and drinks and save the cash. You'll need it about four minutes into the second half, when cheerleaders walk through the stands in what organizers are calling a "Miracle Minute" to collect money to help those suffering from childhood cancer.



There are few diseases uglier and more devastating than cancer, but it's particularly heartbreaking when it affects kids. Every dime collected Saturday will go to help children afflicted with cancer.



Childhood cancer patients and survivors from the area have been invited to attend the game as ODU's guests. The children and their families will help Big Blue, ODU's mascot, celebrate a birthday.



ODU head coach Jeff Jones and wife Danielle Jones will match your gifts up to $10,000. And the effort already is off to a good start – more than a dozen people have donated $3,800 online in the nearly two weeks since this event was announced.



Click here to donate or see Jeff Jones video



ODU fans gave generously more than a year ago shortly after Jeff Jones announced that his prostate cancer unexpectedly returned after treatment. In a short time ODU boosters and fans responded by opening their wallets and donating $75,000 that is helping provide housing to patients who seek treatment out of town.



That effort was organized by Danielle Jones under the auspices of Coaches vs. Cancer, a national effort between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society. Founded in 1993, Coaches vs. Cancer has raised more than $100 million for cancer research and treatment.



The coaches' wives teamed up to do their own fundraiser and Danielle was a founding member of that committee. Last year's effort at ODU generated by far the most money raised nationally by the wives.



While that one event was great, Jeff and Danielle are now planning to build off that effort and make a Coaches vs. Cancer fundraising event a permanent fixture for the ODU community.



The February 8 game will be the kickoff to an ongoing campaign that will feature events every year. Danielle has formed an ODU Coaches vs. Cancer Council that will help plan future events and begin leveraging corporate dollars in the area.



It's a big job and Danielle is a busy woman. She already has a full-time gig at Axios, an online news outlet. But she is no stranger to working OT on behalf of raising money for cancer or researching her husband's treatment.



Jeff Jones said Danielle became his advocate after he was diagnosed. She did tons of research and made dozens of phone calls to find him the best treatment options. Leading an effort like this is a natural for Danielle.



"I feel like I've been afforded this opportunity by virtue of this platform, being a coaches' wife and the wife of a coach who has cancer," she said.



"Since I have that platform, how can I not maximize that in order to help people?"



Her husband is on the NABC board and Danielle is an eloquent and passionate spokesperson who is actively involved with the Coaches vs. Cancer wives' effort.



As Danielle said, "this is a no-brainer."



"We are connected to Coaches vs. Cancer and to the America Cancer Society," she said. "We understand how much they do to help people to get to treatment. It was such a personal impact on people around the world."



She is hopeful that cancer survivors, caregivers and those undergoing cancer treatment will volunteer to help not only her effort, but themselves.



Once you've been told you have cancer, your life changes, even if you've been cured. Cancer can always come back, so you fret before each doctor's appointment. I know this is true because I was treated for prostate cancer two years ago. The worry never quite goes away.



"When your life is impacted by cancer, you develop a sense of frustration because you have so little control," she said. "Working towards helping others gives you back a sense of control.



"I am hopeful that our future events will grow every year and give people throughout the community an opportunity to feel like they're taking control in their fight.



"It's so much better than sitting around and waiting for his next test. I can't feel productive doing that. You have no control over test results. Doing this feels like I'm fighting, that I'm part of that fight."



Future events will be geared toward other cancers and could feature a banquet or other event, along with a basketball game.



Jeff became a national spokesperson for prostate cancer last season. He was afforded a national profile during ODU's first trip to the NCAA tournament in years and spoke out about his cancer and how important it is that men get tested.



That message, and the courage he has shown while battling an incurable disease, was exposed to millions of people in newspapers or on national TV.



Last year's effort resulted in part because Jeff's insurance would not pay for a test his oncologist said he needed. He was able to pay for it but it incensed Jeff and Danielle when they realized that tens of thousands of cancer patients out there can't afford to pay for the treatments they need.



They are determined to help as many of those patients as they can.



That's why I humbly ask that you make a stop at the ATM before you come to the game and give generously. You'll be helping a child who needs it.



Contact Minium: hminium@odu.edu