The family of a State College man who lost his battle with cancer more than ten years ago is keeping his legacy alive.

Saturday, 52 basketball teams hit the hardwood to raise money for the Bob Perks Fund.

It’s an organization that helps local cancer patients struggling, financially.

“What we’re doing is touching individual families who go through a bout with cancer and just can’t afford to pay their bills,” said Doreen Perks.

Perks created the fund after her husband, Bob, lost his battle with melanoma. 

He was just 42 years old.

They had two young children , who have gotten to know their father over their years through fundraising events for the Bob Perks Fund. 

“My children don’t really remember their dad so for them, for me, what better way could we remember than something that people look so fondly on as the Bob Perks Fund,” she said. 

Bob was a local founding member of “Coaches vs.Cancer” So Saturday’s March Mayhem event is something Doreen knows Bob would he on board with.

“He would love this because before he was ever diagnosed with cancer he was a fighter for cancer and to see that we’ve kind of put that last piece in the puzzle for our community, I just think he would love it,” she said. 

Over the past ten years the Bob Perks Fund has raised more than $1.7 Million to help local cancer patients, financially.

This was the first March Mayhem fundraiser for the organization and it raised about $15,000.