The UConn Alumni Association will host “An Evening With Champions” featuring women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma and men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Conn.

The event will be hosted by former women’s basketball All-American and National Player of the Year Rebecca Lobo, who is now a broadcaster for ESPN and a member of the UConn Board of Trustees.

This event will offer a rare glimpse into the Basketball Capital of the World as Ollie and Auriemma will give a behind-the-scenes look at UConn’s historic dual championships and their perspectives into the upcoming season.

Attendees will enjoy dinner and a cash bar prior to an “Inside the Actor’s Studio”-style question and answer session moderated by Lobo.

Tickets are $85 per person and table sponsorships are available. Net proceeds will support scholarships for UConn students.

“This is an exciting and unique opportunity for true blue Husky fans,” said Mo Cotton Kelly, executive director of the UConn Alumni Association. “Through the support of loyal Huskies, the UConn Alumni Association continues to provide scholarships to UConn students in need. What better way to celebrate our dual championships than enjoying a night of camaraderie while helping other Huskies? It’s a winning combination.”

For more information, please call the Alumni Association at 860.486.2240, or email Debra Crary at debra.crary@uconn.edu. You can also RSVP at UConnAlumni.com/EveningWithChampions.

*** Meanwhile, here's my story on UConn commit Jalen Adams, who'll be prepping as a postgrad this season up at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire.

Coach Jim Calhoun, Rebecca Lobo, coaches and a number of Coach Calhoun's former players will be riding and walking on Saturday, June 9th in the Jim Calhoun Cancer Challenge Ride and Walk.  Over 1,000 riders and walkers expected.

WHEN:          Saturday, June 9, 2012

                   7:00AM – 3:00PM

WHAT:          The Jim Calhoun Cancer Challenge Ride and Walk presented by CIGNA and the law firm of RisCassi & Davis is an annual statewide event of Coach Calhoun's to benefit The Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center and Coaches vs. Cancer.

                        This year's event is dedicated to Rebecca Lobo's mother, RuthAnn Lobo who lost her 17 year battle to breast cancer last summer.  Rebecca Lobo and her entire family will be walking the 5K distance. She has invited anyone who would like to walk to walk with her.

                        The ride and walk is open to everyone. There will be non-competitive rides of 10, 25, 50 and 75 miles, with riders participating from across the Northeast, and a 5K walk. The event also includes great food, family activities and live music. The UConn Health Center Department of Dermatology will also offer free skin cancer screenings from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WHERE:        The Calhoun Cancer Challenge Ride and Walk will begin and end at the Performing Arts Center in Simsbury on 22 Iron Horse Boulevard.  

The sixth annual Jim Calhoun Cancer Challenge Ride and Walk will take place on June 9 in Simsbury, and this year it will be dedicated to RuthAnn Lobo, mother of Rebecca, for her courageous fight against cancer. RuthAnn died in July, 2011 at age 67 after a 17-year battle with the disease.

"RuthAnn set an example that is an inspiration to so many fighting the scourge of cancer," Calhoun said. "It is my home that everyone walking or riding on Jun 9 will carry her fighting spirit forward so that we may defeat cancer once and for all."


The dollars raised from the event go to benefit the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the UConn Health Center and Coaches vs. Cancer.  To date the event has raised over $1.5 million – with more than 90% of those dollars going to the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The event starts and finishes in Simsbury, Connecticut with bike rides of 10, 25, 50 and 75 miles and a 5K walk.  While the 10, 25 and 50 mile rides are suitable for riders of all levels – the 75 mile ride is considered to be the toughest ride in Connecticut.  There will also be great food and live music as well.  The public is welcome.

To learn more or to register, please visit www.calhounride.com or call 860-674-1500.