By JoAnn Fields
Los Angeles, CA: The 3rd Annual Athletes vs. Cancer Celebrity flag football game took place before hundreds of fans on Sunday, August 23, 2015 UCLA’s Drake Stadium. The red carpet was rolled out for pro athletes and celebrities from across the country to support NBA and UCLA alumni basketball player Matt Barnes.
Matt Barnes, founded Athletes vs. Cancer in memory of his mother, Ann Catherine Barnes, who passed away twenty-six days after being diagnosed with four types of cancer in November of 2007. Ann’s passing was abrupt and devastating to her family and friends, which led Matt to wanting to prevent others from losing a loved one without having the opportunity to receive the knowledge and proper resources that can assist in early detection and thorough treatment.
In 2008, Matt launched Athletes vs. Cancer worldwide, teaming up with professional athletesand celebrities that shared his goal to educate and bring awareness to communities and to motivate people to get regular cancer screenings. Now, Barnes and UCLA Teen Cancer America are working together to create a scholarship program for kids who beat cancer. For the past three years, Barnes and rapper Snoop Dogg have teamed up for the flag football event, with each leading a team of celebrities and athletes, from NFL and NBA stars to actors and TV personalities.
“Matt Barnes is a personal friend of mine and when he lost his mom he created … this charity, so being a close friend of mine I felt like it was my job to support him and lend my celebrity … and whatever I can bring to the table and that’s what I do,” Snoop Dogg said. “We’ve been pulling this off for three years straight and we feel good about it.”
Despite the recent departure of Snoop Dogg’s son from UCLA’s football program, the rapper remains dedicated to the Westwood campus over his alma mater, USC. For the past two years, the flag football game has been an unofficial UCLA versus USC matchup.
“It’s a UCLA versus UCLA game now. All my UCLA homies, they can’t believe that I switched up like that, but I gotta roll with the family and UCLA’s been really good about football the last couple years,” Snoop Dogg said. “Coach (Jim) Mora, just the whole UCLA facility has just been loving and warm … so it’s only right to come out here and represent them.”
For more information regarding Athletes vs. Cancer Foundation visit their website atwww.AthletesVersusCancer.org.
