On Saturday, August 3, basketball enthusiasts came together at Union College in Schenectady for the inaugural Big C 3-on-3 Tournament, raising nearly $23,000 for ALS research. Of the funds raised, more than $16,000 will be donated to the St. Peter’s Hospital ALS Regional Center, an affiliate of St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP).
The Big C tournament paid tribute to Capital District basketball legend Christopher Fagan, aka “The Big C.” Fagan played for Catholic Central High School and Colgate University. He then went onto to play professionally in France and Holland. It was on the court where Fagan first noticed he couldn’t catch passes with his left hand. That would turn out to be one of his first symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
After his diagnosis, Fagan and his family, including his wife Kathy and his daughter Kate, received support from the St. Peter’s Hospital ALS Regional Center. Before Fagan died in December 2019, he had one last request: start a 3-on-3 tournament in his memory. And that’s just what Kathy and Kate did.
Every dollar raised from the The Big C Tournament is going toward ALS research and support. Just over $6,000 will be donated to the ALS Therapy Development Institute in Boston, MA, and $16,638 to St. Peter’s Hospital ALS Regional Center.
Since 1988, St. Peter’s Hospital ALS Regional Center has been providing people with ALS and their families with a comprehensive, specialized blend of services and resources. The center provides both a medical and an emotional system of support to help maintain quality of life, advocacy and hope throughout the course of the disease.
Thank you to everyone who donated to and supported the event!
