Sports stats



WNBA Minnesota Lynx

Brother, Sister McCants to Host 3rd Annual "Shoot for the Cure"

July 22, 2009 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release


ASHEVILLE, NC (July 22, 2009)- Rashad McCants, a member of the 2005 North Carolina Tarheels National Championship team and current member of the NBA's Sacramento Kings will host his 3rd Annual "Shoot For The Cure," fundraising event Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26 at the Bele Chere Festival in Asheville, NC. Joined by his sister Rashanda of the Minnesota Lynx, the brother and sister duo are hosting this charitable event to combat breast cancer.

Rashad and Rashanda attended high schools in Asheville - Erwin and Asheville High respectively- and both siblings attended UNC, Chapel Hill. As Rashad and Rashanda both went on to become professional basketball players, the duo is just one of a handful of brother-sister combinations in NBA/WNBA history. They will return to the area to host the annual fundraiser benefitting breast cancer-related programs and other local charities.

Rashad created the "Shoot for the Cure" event to establish an annual benefit for non-profit organizations in the Asheville area in July of 2007 and what better place than Asheville's biggest festival, The Bele Chere.

Rashad and Rashanda's mother, Brenda McCants, is a breast cancer survivor and works closely with the Sisters Network, Inc, a national breast cancer charity. "Our family realizes that we are so blessed that our mother is a breast cancer survivor," said Rashad. "We hope that even in these trying times, people remember that the fight against this disease still goes on. The Sisters Network is a wonderful group that helps people living with breast cancer cope with maintaining every day needs while fighting the disease." Proceeds from this year's event will benefit the local chapter of Sisters Network as well as the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM).

The Shoot For The Cure event offers one lucky participant the chance to win $20,000 by making a qualifying half-court shot throughout the weekend, and then repeating the shot at Sunday's finals. Also available throughout the contest hours will be autographed memorabilia for raffle, as well as prizes from Gold's Gym and other local sponsors. The event will take place at the Coxe Ave parking lot. To enhance the shooting experience, Sport Court will lay down a custom court for participants to shoot on. Donated by the North Carolina Sport Court dealer, Sport Court is the nation's premier provider of indoor/outdoor court surfaces. Both McCants' will be on hand to coach and interact with the participants.

The Bele Chere is widely recognized as one of the largest, free, outdoor festivals in the Southeast with an attendance of over 350,000. This year will be the 31st event of its kind. For more information please go to www.rashadmccants1.com.

About Rashad McCants Rashad McCants is a North Carolina native who attended Clyde A. Erwin High School in Asheville, N.C. He went on to play for University of North Carolina where he helped lead the team to a National Championship in 2005. McCants ranks 14th all-time at North Carolina with 1,721 points and tied for second with 221 career three-point fields goals. McCants was selected 14th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2005 NBA Draft. In the 2007-2008 season, McCants averaged 14.9 PPG, 40.7% from three-point range and 2.2 assists. In early 2009, Rashad was traded the Sacramento Kings. For more information on Rashad, please visit www.rashadmccants1.com.

About Rashanda McCants At Asheville High School Rashanda was an All-America selection by McDonald's, the WBCA and EA Sports as a senior. She was ranked Second-team All-America by Parade magazine and third-team All-USA by USA Today. Rashanda was also a two-time Class 3A Miss Basketball in North Carolina and two-time all-state selection as well as Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina her senior year.

At UNC Rashanda averaged a team-best 14.4 points per game in leading the Tar Heels to a 28-7 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament second round her senior year. She also played in two Final Fours in her college career and was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference twice. Rashanda was a 2009 State Farm All-America honorable mention selection and in April, Rashanda was drafted 14th by the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA.

About Sisters Network, Inc Sisters Network® Inc. (SNI) is the leading voice and only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization in the United States. SNI promotes the importance of breast health through empowerment, support, breast education programs, resources, information, and research. Membership is 3000, which includes over 40 affiliate chapters nationwide. The organization's purpose is to save lives and provide a broader scope of knowledge that addresses the breast cancer survivorship crisis affecting African American women around the country. As a nationally recognized organization among leading medical establishments and breast cancer physicians, Sisters Network is also recognized as a critical information resource for African American women.

About ABCCM ABCCM was formed by churches and pastors to respond to emergency assistance needs in the community. ABCCM seeks to create opportunities for its member churches and affiliate congregations to serve together in a cooperative and collaborative manner which extends the mission of each church in reaching out to serve others in need in the name of Christ. Founded in 1969 by eight Buncombe County Churches, ABCCM is now a cooperative ministry of more than 260 churches accomplishing what individual congregations cannot accomplish alone. ABCCM creates opportunities for others to restore the dignity of the "least of our neighbors" by offering grace and mercy in service. Through dedicated volunteers and generous supporters, thousands of needy families are given compassion and hope.

About Sport Court Sport Court athletic surfaces have been recognized by many leading sports organizations throughout the world. The "heart" of their backyard game courts is a modular sports floor that is durable, attractive and safer for active athletes of all ages. Over the past 30 years, they have developed sports systems for indoors and out, and for residential and commercial installations. Surfaces are available in a wide variety of colors, and your court can even be customized with a team logo, family crest or other favorite image.

Sport Court outdoor sports surfaces are specially engineered and manufactured with UV protectants to resist color fading, and the patented open-grid design allows for quick drainage and drying after bad weather. An enhancement to any home, a Sport Court game court can be installed in just a matter of days.

About Bele Chere Bele Chere is widely recognized as one of the Southeast's largest, free, outdoor festivals in the Southeast with an attendance of over 350,000. Bele Chere is produced by the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Bele Chere Board of Directors. For complete Bele Chere events listings, please visit www.belecherefestival.com.

Check out the Minnesota Lynx Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...

Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 22, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central