Cougars Help with Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation

PROVO -- As the holiday season approaches, BYU men’s basketball will continue its tradition of participating in the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation’s annual Christmas party.

This year the Foundation has partnered with The Little Heroes Foundation — founded by former Cougar Travis Hansen — to collect monetary donations and unwrapped toys that go directly towards a Christmas party for more than 90 families living primarily in Utah County who have children with cancer.

The BYU men’s basketball team and head coach Dave Rose and his wife Cheryl have been involved with the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation (CCCF) and the annual Christmas party for the past 11 years. This year’s event will be particularly meaningful to Rose, who himself was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during the summer. His recent cancer scans have come back normal.

Hansen first became involved with CCCF while playing for Coach Rose. Inspired in part by what he learned during his experiences with CCCF, Travis founded Little Heroes Foundation (LHF) while playing professional basketball in Russia.

How to Donate

Those wishing to participate in the event can drop off unwrapped toys at Far West Bank locations in Orem, Provo, Payson, Salem and at Springville’s Main Street branch. Deseret First Credit Union is also providing drop off locations at all three of their branches in Utah County. The 2009 Christmas party and the distribution of the toys will take place next month.

Monetary donations can be sent to the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation, 56 East 100 South, Orem, Utah 84058. Toys can be dropped off until Dec. 12th, while the monetary donations can be made through the end of December.

About Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation

Founded by Mac Boyter, a cancer survivor who saw the needs of a family with a child battling cancer around the Christmas season, Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation was formed in 1998. CCCF has since provided assistance to approximately 250 families.

About Little Heroes Foundation

Little Heroes Foundation is involved in projects that create a better world by inspiring the hero within to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals. Little Heroes Foundation is pleased to partner with the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation in carrying out an inspiring service opportunity to benefit families in our community.

Click here for more information on Little Heroes Foundation.