In the Hoops 4 Hope basketball game, state legislators help New Mexico cancer patients at UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
There’s always room for debate: Sandias or Organ Mountains? Red or Green?
But once each year in New Mexico, “Republican or Democrat?” isn’t one of them.
On Thursday, March 6, New Mexico state senators and representatives will set aside their party loyalties to team up with colleagues in their legislative houses for a friendly game of basketball.
Bragging rights are at stake, but the real goal of the game is supporting New Mexicans and their families who are battling cancer.
Hoops 4 Hope is an annual fundraising effort to help support cancer patients at The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center. This year, the game will played at the Santa Fe Indian School, 1501 Cerillos Road, in Santa Fe. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
Coaching the N.M. House Aggies is Amber Burdge, acting New Mexico State University athletic director, and Rob Baarts, NMSU women’s soccer head coach.
The Senate Lobos will be coached by UNM’s new athletic director, Fernando Lovo, and new head football coach Jason Eck.
“We appreciate the support of our state lawmakers who participate in the game every year," said Yolanda Sanchez, PhD, Director and CEO of the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This game and fundraiser provide a crucial source of support for our patients and their loved ones, and it helps us provide the best, most compassionate care to all New Mexicans."
The game has generated more than $300,000 for the UNM Cancer Center’s patient care fund over the past 20 years. The game became an official fundraiser for the Center in 2004, when legislators began playing in memory of state Rep. Ray Ruiz, who died of lung cancer that year.
Last year, the New Mexico House Aggies triumphed over the N.M. Senate Lobos, 34-22. More than $35,000 was raised for the patient care fund.
The Hoops 4 Hope game is open to the public and donations are welcome and greatly appreciated. Donations are also accepted online at https://unmhealth.org/cancer/hoops4hope.html.
UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in a 500-mile radius. Its 136 board-certified oncology specialty physicians include cancer surgeons in every specialty (abdominal, thoracic, bone and soft tissue, neurosurgery, genitourinary, gynecology, and head and neck cancers), adult and pediatric hematologists/medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists, and radiation oncologists. They, along with more than 600 other cancer healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, navigators, psychologists and social workers), provide treatment to 65% of New Mexico’s cancer patients from all across the state. And they partner with community health systems statewide to provide cancer care closer to home. In 2024 they treated more than 15,000 patients in almost 105,000 ambulatory clinic visits in addition to in-patient hospitalizations at UNM Hospital. A total of 2,075 patients participated in cancer clinical trials to study new cancer treatments that include tests of novel cancer prevention strategies and cancer genome sequencing. The more than 123 cancer research scientists affiliated with the UNM Cancer Center were awarded $38.3 million in federal and private grants and contracts for cancer research projects.
Website: unmhealth.org/cancer
UNM Cancer Center Clinic: 505-272-4946
UNM Cancer Center Community and Media Relations: 505-548-0927
