The Auburn men's basketball team published a video on Wednesday of head coach Bruce Pearl getting a pleasant surprise.
According to Auburn, what Pearl thought was going to be a regular press conference turned out to be a group of cancer survivors and AUTLIVE members to thank him for his efforts to raise money to fight cancer.
AUTLIVE is an initiative run by the Bruce Pearl Family Foundation that Pearl set up at Auburn. It started in 2009 as OUTLIVE when Pearl was the head coach at Tennessee. The initiative was set up in recognition of former Volunteer Chris Lofton, who beat testicular cancer through early diagnosis and local treatment. Pearl brought the effort to Auburn with him, and it has grown every year with an emphasis on raising awareness of cancer prevention and detection through donations and t-shirt sales.
The survivors thank Pearl and tell him their stories or the stories of those AUTLIVE is helping continue to live.
One child battling cancer couldn't be there to meet Pearl but wrote him a touching note, which the coach read aloud.
"I am so happy I'm still alive," the note from Cole read. "If it wasn't for y'all, I wouldn't be alive."
Last year, AUTLIVE raised over $300,000 to go toward cancer prevention.
This year's AUTLIVE game will take place on Saturday, February 17, 2024, versus Kentucky in Neville Arena.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email trent.baker@1819news.com.
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