University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hen Student-Athletes Raise $12,000+ in Inaugural Reps for Kids Event
12/16/2015 12:23:00 PM | Delaware Athletics, SAAC
NEWARK, Del. -- Since 2007, University of Delaware Athletics has partnered with the Andrew McDonough Be Positive Foundation to raise money to fight childhood cancer. The teams adopt “Heroes”, children who have battled or are still fighting cancer, to support and help them through their tough times.
This year, the student-athletes at Delaware chose to do even more to help these special heroes as they took part in the inaugural “Reps for Kids” event on Thursday night, Dec. 10, at the Bob Carpenter Center.
The goal was to raise money through donations and sponsorships through friendly team competition. The event was a huge success as Blue Hen student-athletes raised over $12,000.
Athletes joined with their respective teams and each student-athlete performed as many reps as possible on the bench press or pull-up bar. Athletes reached out to sponsors who made donations based on how many reps of each exercise the athlete could perform.
“What a great outcome to celebrate for our student-athletes and the Andrew McDonough Foundation,” said Delaware Associate AD for Student-Athlete Development Jennifer Judy, who coordinated the event along with a student-athlete committee. “It was a fun night and gave our student-athletes another chance to be active and physical and get competitive. This brought them together as a student- athlete group outside of their team bonds and this greater connection to everything will allow that spirit and energy to build as we move towards UDance (University-wide student B+ Foundation fundraiser) in March.”
Joe McDonough, founder of the Be Positive Foundation, was on hand for the Reps for Kids event and thanked the students-athletes for their efforts and the positive impact that they have had on this great cause.
“What you do for them (children with cancer), by raising money and awareness, not only helps them in the fight against childhood cancer, but you lift them up,” McDonough said to the enthusiastic crowd. “You are, we are, making a difference. This year, because of you guys, we will help 17,000 kids and their families fight cancer. We are literally saving children's lives, by the research that we are funding, because you care to make a difference.”
To a child with cancer, a college athlete can appear to be a superhero and a source of inspiration for them to look forward to in the future. But for the Delaware athletes, they find these kids to be the true heroes.
“I think athletes have such a unique platform that we can bring so much awareness to such an amazing cause,” Elyse Andrews, a senior women's lacrosse player and a UD Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) board member said. “I think as athletes, kids look up to us like we're superheroes, but they're really the superheroes. To be able to get them as passionate about a cause as the rest of the campus is an amazing thing.”
The $12,000 raised, which topped expectations of all the SAAC members involved in the planning of the event, will go directly to helping children and their families who are battling cancer. The funds will also go into each team's fundraising efforts for the UDance Dance Marathon this spring.
A college athlete's schedule is certainly full on a daily basis with classes, study sessions, practices, games, and team activities, but they still look forward to spending time with their special heroes. It opens their eyes to something more.
“The past three years, bonding and hanging out with (UD football hero) Danny and seeing what he has been through and how amazing he is, it makes you feel good to help people out like this,” said Delaware football junior and SAAC member Ryan Torzsa. “I've been to UDance and had the chance to meet some of the other heroes. No matter what we give to them, they give us so much more back.”
UDance will be held on Sunday, March 13 at the Bob Carpenter Center. To donate or get involved, check out their website at www.udancedelaware.org.
By Erin Dunne, UD Athletics Media Relations Student Intern
