University of Hawaii basketball coach Eran Ganot is prepared to fight the good fight.

“We’ve got to crush cancer,” Ganot said.

Ganot and attorney Jeff Portnoy are organizing Coaches vs. Cancer’s third annual fund-raising event at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort on Thursday. The event will feature food and drinks and the chance to mingle with the head coaches of the eight basketball teams participating in the coming Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

The first two events raised about $20,000, with past proceeds going to the Honolulu Hope Lodge, which provides free housing on Oahu for neighbor island patients undergoing treatment.

Ganot became involved with the Coaches vs. Cancer organization soon after being named UH head coach in 2015. He now is on the organization’s council, a leadership team consisting of basketball coaches and business leaders from across the country.

“We’re all touched in one way, form or other by these diseases,” Ganot said. “You’ve had friends, extended family, colleagues, players … it’s hard not to be touched by it.”

Ganot said it was a goal to participate in meaningful causes as he ascended the coaching profession.

“I always tell people, we work our tails off in life to be in a position of influence, to affect lives in a positive way,” Ganot said. “I know it sounds corny, but there are a lot of things we can do with our platforms that are not about us. This is a platform I don’t take lightly.”

Ganot said cancer has affected people on his mother’s side of the family. “You don’t always have to be touched by it to fight this fight,” Ganot said. “I appreciate everybody who has committed to raising money but also raising awareness.”

Tickets, which are priced at $125 each, may be purchased at crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/cvcfundraiserhi.