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OREM — Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith's co-founded project dedicated to cancer research is expanding to college basketball, and it's starting on the Wasatch Front.
Utah Valley men's basketball will wear a 5 for the Fight patch to urge $5 donations to cancer research on the Wolverines' jerseys for the rest of the year, beginning Wednesday night against BYU. The Wolverines are the first NCAA Division I program nationally to partner with the foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that invites everyone to donate $5 to the fight against cancer.
The Utah Jazz became the first basketball organization to join the fight against cancer when former owner Gail Miller joined with Smith, then only the co-founder of Utah-based experience management firm Qualtrics, to announce the Jazz would wear a jersey patch representing the organization in 2019. Since then, the foundation has raised more than $26 million through crowdfunding for cancer research, Utah Valley said.
"UVU athletics is honored to partner with the 5 For The Fight team and we look forward to helping the organization raise awareness and drive contributions in the fight against cancer," Utah Valley athletic director Jared Sumsion said. "We all know someone who has been affected by cancer. I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer last December—this battle is personal for me and for the millions of others who fight this dreadful disease every day."
Qualtrics and 5 for the Fight have previously joined with BYU basketball, Smith's alma mater with which he retains a strong connection to the program, on various campaigns. But Wednesday's announcement represents the first jersey patch from the organization worn by a Division I college team nationally.
Interested individuals can "join the fight" by contributing $5 to the foundation by texting the word "Fight" to 50555 and confirm the donation. Donations can also be made online in varying amounts.
Utah Valley hosts BYU inside the recently remodeled UCCU Center at 7 p.m. MT. The game can be watched on BYUtv and streamed online at ESPN+.
