Owens Basketball Team Helping with Charity - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Owens Basketball Team Helping with Charity

The Express women's basketball team volunteered at the 10th Annual Northwest Ohio Komen Race for the Cure this past Sunday in Downtown Toledo.

The team served as course marshals for the event. As participants began their walk, the Express guided the masses with directional signs to the course of their choice.

"I am proud of our effort," said Express women's basketball head coach Michael Llanas. "The girls were encouraging and enthusiastic as they were clapping, dancing and shaking hands of participants as they ran and walked by. We all had a lot of fun for a great cause."

Approximately 17,000 people gathered at this year's event. The Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure has grown to raise more than $1 million annually. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generate by the Komen Northwest Affiliate stay in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. These funds are distributed through grants made to organizations that deliver treatment, services and education throughout the Affiliate's service area. The remaining funds go to the National Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program for energizing science to find the cures. All the money sent to the national organization is designated for research. Affiliate support is never used to support operations expenses at the national level.

The Express women's basketball team finished last season 25-6 - their third consecutive year with at least 25 wins. The team opens their scrimmage schedule on Oct. 13 by hosting the JUCO Mega Scrimmage. The Express then open the regular season Nov. 7 at home against Henry Ford Community College.