BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Former UT basketball star Chris Lofton battled Testicular Cancer his final season playing for the Vols.

His fight against the disease still inspires many East Tennesseans, including Coach Bruce Pearl.

Pearl and his wife helped host the "Tennessee Fights to Beat Cancer" ride Saturday afternoon in Maryville.

Last year he pledged to help raise one million dollars for the "Outlive" campaign to raise cancer awareness.

"This is a public service announcement, go get screened!" Coach Pearl said. "Get it this week because if we detect cancer early we can beat cancer. And guys, go get your prostate done, your colon and your blood work and you're gonna die of something else. And that's what the message is."

The ride lasted more than two hours and included a stop at Thompson Boling Arena.

Besides promoting cancer screenings, it also helped raise money to expand UT Medical Center's Cancer Center.