Athletes 4 Awareness

"EDUCATING OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH SPORTS"

Athletes 4 Awareness is an organization committed to raising awareness in 4 main areas of health through sports related events:

►Cancer
►Heart Disease
►Diabetes
►Healthy Living

Using the vehicles of large and small events through the US and into Native American Communities, Athletes 4 Awareness is poised to make an impact in awareness for living a healthy fullfilled life.

Mission Statement

Athletes 4 Awareness believes everyone Loves their Children and Grand Children, Our Mission is to Ensure that Parents and Grand Parents will be Healthy and Aware, so that we can be here long enough to help our Children succeed.

A4A is an Organization that provides athletic training clinics with former Professional athletes. We strive to raise Cancer Awareness and prevenative education to participants through sports.

Join hands with Athletes 4 Awareness and educate our youth and their families about Cancer prevention and early detection.

Kwame Hymes
Founder & President

Basketball has always been an integral part of Kwame Hymes’s life. After years of hard work, the opportunity to play professionally was quickly approaching. He had been battling, what he thought, was a hernia and fatigue for several months before giving into his coaches suggestion to see a physician. What he found out, changed his life forever. He was in stage four, the final stage, of Hodgkins Disease, a type of cancer that attacks the lymphnodes. He immediately flew home to Arizona, abandoning his studies, and basketball career to begin the fight of his life.

He spent years trying to find out how to feel fulfilled without basketball, until he came to the understanding that he didn’t have to. After re-evaluating his battle with illness, symptoms that should have alerted him early on, were ignored. Kwame’ Hymes found Athletes 4 Awareness, a cancer education program designed to bring focus to early detection, in the hopes that others could benefit from his story. The organization’s first event , Hoops for Awareness, was held on July 18, 2009, at US Airways Center. Kwame was able to bring parents and their children together through sports. He held a basketball clinic on the floor of the arena, which was a treat for all athletes involved, but he also invited valley clinics to speak to parents about early detection, and the importance of regular check-ups. Kwame shared his story, reminding parents to listen to their bodies, while keeping themselves healthy. No one should have to give up their dreams, or miss out on seeing their children live out their dreams.

Along with leading Athletes 4 Awareness, Kwame is the owner and lead trainer of Right Touch Basketball Training and Development. He prides himself on preparing students to compete at “the next level”. Additionally, Kwame is a Chairman of the Phoenix Urban Sports Collaboration Committee, as well as the head coach and director of Arizona Legacy Club Basketball program.

Sam Stith
Vice President

As a high school All-American basketball player at St. Francis Prep in New York City, Sam guided his team to three National Basketball Championships.

His collegiate career found him at St. Bonaventure University where he led his team to three N.I.T appearances in Madison Square Garden.

Sam played Professional Basketball with the Cleveland Pipers of the A.B.A, the Harlem Wizards and the New York Knicks of the N.B.A.
He is a Vice President of the Phoenix Chapter of “Legends of Basketball”.

Since moving to Arizona, Sam, working with Right Touch Basketball, has conducted various basketball clinics and camps for young adults.

Sam is currently serving as the Board of Directors for South West Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Chairman of the New York City, "Rucker Park Pro Legends".

Sam Stith #22 was the first Number retired at St. Bonaventure University

He is also a member of the College Hall of Fame & New York High School Hall of Fame.