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CRC to offer Drug Free Club members complimentary tickets

T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY THE CANCER Research Classic announced a partnership with XTO Energy that will allow any card-carrying member of the Drug Free Clubs of America in the Ohio Valley to gain free entry to the CRC, which is scheduled for Jan. 4 and 5 at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling. From left are Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland, who is the director of the Drug Free Clubs of America in Belmont County; Retired Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne (Ohio County Drug Free Clubs of America), Karen Matusic of XTO Energy and Dr. Gregory Merrick, director and founder of the CRC.

WHEELING — The Cancer Research Classic is certainly more than just basketball.

As Dr. Gregory Merrick — the event’s founder and director — put it, “(the CRC is) about community.”

And because of a partnership between the CRC, Wheeling Hospital and XTO Energy, even more members of the community — the youth in particular — are going to have an opportunity to witness the 12th annual CRC, which is slated for WesBanco Arena on Jan. 4 and 5.

During a press conference held Wednesday afternoon, Merrick and officials from the Drug Free Clubs of America chapters in Ohio and Belmont County announced the partnership, which allows any Ohio Valley student, who is a card-carrying member of the Drug Free Club, a free ticket to both days of the CRC, which will feature 12 games over the course of the two days.

“We wanted to do something that could give back and seeing this huge drug problem we have in this country where our youth are told this lie that marijuana, for instance, is not a dangerous drug,” Merrick said. “We’re grateful to XTO, which has provided us with a nice grant for this.”

XTO Public and Government Affairs Manager of the Central District Karen Matusic, who pointed out she and her son have attended several CRCs, was on hand at the announcement.

“We think it’s a privilege to be here in the Ohio Valley and work in this community,” Matusic said. “We do not have a never-ending pot of money that we can give back, so we make very careful choices about where we do give back. Part of this is to give back to young folks and give them incentive to do well in school and remain drug free.”

Merrick pointed out that data was recently released that said six percent of high school students smoke marijuana daily and 20 percent have smoked within the last year.

“The data is also showing that (marijuana) causes permanent brain damage, decreased IQ and it’s the number one cause for adolescent Schizophrenia and psychosis,” Merrick said. “Plus, it’s a gateway drug. People, normally, do not start (using drugs) by sticking a needle in their arm. Using a psycho-active drug can only decrease or damage brain development.”

The CRC will once again feature area schools — Wheeling Park and Wheeling Central — as well as many national powers. All 12 of the national teams scheduled to play in the CRC are currently ranked in the top 25 nationally.

“When we started this, we surely wanted to be the best event in the country and there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ve done that,” Merrick said. “There will be between 100 and 120 future Division I basketball players and probably as many as 10 or 15 will eventually play in the NBA.”

Merrick pointed out that the event’s growth, which led to the move from Wheeling Jesuit to downtown Wheeling, allowed him to think outside the box in getting more kids from the Ohio Valley involved as well as provide an outreach for them, too.

“We have a lot more space and can do more things and I’m always interested in (helping) young people,” Merrick said. “The CRC started with a couple of goals (beyond basketball) and one of those was to increase men’s health awareness. It’s rare that people hear me talk and basketball isn’t the most important thing, but our young people are much more important. We now have an opportunity to reach out and further educate our youth to help improve their long-term options in life.”

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