The Veterans Memorial Arena will have 12 high school basketball teams competing in the annual Mirabito Coaches vs Cancer Boys Invitational on December 27th and 28th.

Today the bell rang for the start of the event with the first "Tip Off Breakfast".

High school basketball teams including Unatego, Windsor, Union Endicott, Chenango Valley and more are hoping to raise around 50,000 dollars for the American Cancer Society, the second biggest donor in the United States for cancer research.

Tickets are 2 dollars per ticket per day, and help the American Cancer Society fund research at schools such as Cornell university, along with sending patients to treatment in cities like New York City and Philadelphia.

Binghamton University Head Coach Levell Sanders hopes his personal experiences will inspire the players participating in the invitational.

"I think for me, it holds some, some personal, baggage because my mom, had breast cancer. She's she's cleared now, but she had breast cancer.  and, just not really knowing, you know, what was going to happen. If I was going to see her again. Just all kind of forces were running through my mind.  And so whenever there's an opportunity to support the American Cancer Society because they do a lot of good work," Sanders said.

The event will run on the 27th and 28th from 12 PM to 8:45 PM, starting with Windsor vs. Whitney Point at the Visions Memorial Arena at 12 PM on the 27th.