Hope College raised more than $8,000 for the Van Andel Institute and its fight against cancer and neurodegenerative diseases at its Purple Community basketball games.

Hope students and President John C. Knapp presented a check for $8,691.89 to David '83 and Carol '81 (Girod) Van Andel during halftime of the men's basketball game against Trine Wednesday at DeVos Fieldhouse.

All proceeds from the men's and women's Purple Community varsity and junior varsity games on January 28 went to Van Andel Institute.

The funds raised also will help fund a summer internship for a Hope student to perform research in a Van Andel Institute laboratory.

Hope College has selected junior Philip Versluis to be this summer's intern. He is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology.