Huse Carries On in Battle Against Cancer
1/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
It's nothing he can see or hold, and he doesn't even think about it most days. But that doesn't mean Brad Huse doesn't carry a reminder of his status as a cancer survivor with him everywhere.
"It's kind of my little charm in my hip pocket," said Huse, Montana State's second-year head basketball coach who battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma - cancer of the lymph nodes - during his highly-successful eight-year head coaching tenure at Jamestown (N.D.) College. "If things aren't going well or I'm struggling with something I can always fall back on that experience. You can always fall lower."
Never is the presence of cancer in Huse's life more front-and-center than on Suits and Sneakers Night, when college basketball coaches nationwide don sneakers with their usual courtside attire to bring awareness to the fight against cancer. That night arrives Saturday on the MSU campus and a week later nationally, when the Bobcats play at Portland State.
"This is our most high-profile event," Huse said of the signature moment of the Coaches vs. Cancer effort. Sanctioned by the American Cancer Society and working in conjunction with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the event raises funds. More importantly, Huse says, it raises awareness.
"For us, this weekend and the recognition of Coaches vs. Cancer is as much symbolic as anything," he said. "We are trying to raise some funds, but the awareness of the fight is as important as the fight in a low of ways, continuing to spread the word."
Spurred largely by former North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano's public fight against the disease, college basketball coaches have been at the vanguard of fighting cancer and raising awareness for cancer research. "The NABC has really taken an active role in the fight against cancer," Huse said. "That organization has done some unbelievable things since it was started. I think we've made some measurable marks in the fight against cancer."
While Huse's life and career have been changed by the disease, he knows that most people have come in contact with cancer. "All of us are affected in one way or another, hopefully not personally but certainly with extended family or friends. Everywhere you turn you run into that word."
Huse and most coaches are proud of their organization's work. "People have taken a real positive, active role over the years in contribution and doing th research and doing what they can," he said. "We're seeing strides in people making recoveries that they weren't making that long ago."
For Huse, though, his personal experiences inspire him to remain active in the fight. "I'm the result of technology and medicine and research and somebody's donation to the fight years ago," he said. "I feel very fortunate that I was able to survive it, and I have the responsibility now to give back in some capacity."
"It's kind of my little charm in my hip pocket," said Huse, Montana State's second-year head basketball coach who battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma - cancer of the lymph nodes - during his highly-successful eight-year head coaching tenure at Jamestown (N.D.) College. "If things aren't going well or I'm struggling with something I can always fall back on that experience. You can always fall lower."
Never is the presence of cancer in Huse's life more front-and-center than on Suits and Sneakers Night, when college basketball coaches nationwide don sneakers with their usual courtside attire to bring awareness to the fight against cancer. That night arrives Saturday on the MSU campus and a week later nationally, when the Bobcats play at Portland State.
"This is our most high-profile event," Huse said of the signature moment of the Coaches vs. Cancer effort. Sanctioned by the American Cancer Society and working in conjunction with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the event raises funds. More importantly, Huse says, it raises awareness.
"For us, this weekend and the recognition of Coaches vs. Cancer is as much symbolic as anything," he said. "We are trying to raise some funds, but the awareness of the fight is as important as the fight in a low of ways, continuing to spread the word."
Spurred largely by former North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano's public fight against the disease, college basketball coaches have been at the vanguard of fighting cancer and raising awareness for cancer research. "The NABC has really taken an active role in the fight against cancer," Huse said. "That organization has done some unbelievable things since it was started. I think we've made some measurable marks in the fight against cancer."
While Huse's life and career have been changed by the disease, he knows that most people have come in contact with cancer. "All of us are affected in one way or another, hopefully not personally but certainly with extended family or friends. Everywhere you turn you run into that word."
Huse and most coaches are proud of their organization's work. "People have taken a real positive, active role over the years in contribution and doing th research and doing what they can," he said. "We're seeing strides in people making recoveries that they weren't making that long ago."
For Huse, though, his personal experiences inspire him to remain active in the fight. "I'm the result of technology and medicine and research and somebody's donation to the fight years ago," he said. "I feel very fortunate that I was able to survive it, and I have the responsibility now to give back in some capacity."
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