# UK Basketball's 'Hoops and Heels' Returns Sept. 25 to Benefit Cancer Research **Published:** 2026-08-21T22:23:06.000Z **Source:** [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/08/21/hoops-and-heels-presented-by-hourglass-aesthetics-returns-sept-25/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/uk-basketball-s-hoops-and-heels-returns-sept-25-to-benefit-cancer-research LEXINGTON, Ky. — [UK Athletics announced the return of Hoops and Heels](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/08/21/hoops-and-heels-presented-by-hourglass-aesthetics-returns-sept-25/), a popular preseason fundraiser headlined by men's basketball coach Mark Pope and his wife Lee Anne, on Sept. 25 at Historic Memorial Coliseum. The event, in its third consecutive year, will run from 7 to 9 p.m. and aims to raise funds for the [Markey Cancer Foundation](https://ukmarkey.org/), Kentucky's only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Registration for the event is now open at a cost of $100, which includes entry and a T-shirt. Attendees will have the option to purchase a basketball signed by members of the 2026-27 Wildcats roster for an additional $50, with one ball per registrant. Registration will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Joe Craft Center's main entrance. [Pope, who returned to his alma mater](https://www.ukathletics.com/) in April 2024 after leading BYU to the NCAA Tournament, steered the Wildcats to a 24-12 record in his inaugural season and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The event is designed for participants of all ages and basketball experience levels, offering an exclusive look at the UK men's basketball program with various vendors and activity stations on site. The Markey Cancer Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Markey Cancer Center, has raised more than $110 million since its founding in 1978. The foundation supports innovative cancer research, patient care and education across Kentucky, where one person dies of cancer every hour. Additional sponsors for the event include Calypso Boutique, Woodhouse Spa and BBN United. Attendees should wear comfortable clothing and note that a clear bag policy will be enforced. For refund requests, contact the UK men's basketball office at cmpbballcamp@gmail.com. ## Sources - [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/08/21/hoops-and-heels-presented-by-hourglass-aesthetics-returns-sept-25/) - [UK Markey Cancer Foundation official website with mission and history](https://ukmarkey.org/) - [Mark Pope coaching biography at UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/coach/mark-pope/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from UK Athletics, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/08/21/hoops-and-heels-presented-by-hourglass-aesthetics-returns-sept-25/.