James Madison women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks says he and his staff warn their players about the danger of breast cancer.

"We talk about it quite a bit. We have Breast Cancer Awareness Month," Brooks said Wednesday morning. "We talk to our young ladies, make sure they get checked out. Because this disease doesn't discriminate from anyone."

Brooks was among the four local college basketball coaches at Ham's Restaurant in Harrisonburg Wednesday for the inaugural Shenandoah Valley "Coaches vs. Cancer" Tip-Off Breakfast.

For $12, fans got food, season previews and the chance to bid on memorabilia in a silent auction. Every dollar went to cancer research.

"They're fighting this thing with awareness," said Brooks. "And it's just a wonderful opportunity for us, and anytime we can help bring some type of awareness to this nasty disease, it's a pleasure for us."

Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaborative effort between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Since its inception in 1993, the organization has raised close to $50 million.

JMU men's basketball coach Matt Brady and his staff organized Wednesday's local event.

"The importance of the day is to try to raise awareness," Brady said. "And begin to get this area actively participating in the raising of funds for a cause that I think is so close, and so noble to a lot of people."

Bridgewater men's basketball coach Don Burgess and Kirby Dean, the men's coach at Eastern Mennonite, also spoke at the breakfast.

Brady hoped those in attendance found the breakfast to be "a morning well-spent," and said his goal was to make the event an annual event.

"Do our small part for the fight against cancer," Brady said.