Grace Sets Record For Knockout Basketball In Fundraiser For Injured Student | |||
More than 400 people lined up behind the free throw line at Grace College’s Orthopaedic Capital Center Friday night to participate in a Guinness World Record-breaking game of knockout basketball. The game was organized as a fundraiser for Grace senior Jeremy Mohr, who was paralyzed in an accident last fall. The idea originated among five Grace College students as a part of a sport management class. Their goal, which was to bring in more than 360 participants to beat the world record previously held by Iowa State University, came to fruition when more than 400 students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members lined up to participate and give Grace College the record. In order to raise funds for Mohr’s care, event organizers Zane Gard and Hannah Lengel asked for a $1 participation fee from all players. By the end of the night, they had raised more than $1,200. Gard said because of the donations they received from various Grace College departments, they were able to host the game without outside expense — meaning Mohr would receive the full amount raised. Lengel, a sport management and business major, said she was incredibly encouraged to see the campus and community support Mohr in such an unexpected way. “Our original goal was just to raise funds from admissions — $361,” she said. “To know that it’s all going to Jeremy and it’s going to make a difference is great. When we started planning this, the record was 137. Then a few weeks later it jumped up to 200 people, and a week after that the record was 360 from Iowa State. When it got to that point, I was a little skeptical and a little worried, but we knew even if we didn’t break the record, at least we’d be raising money for Jeremy.” The game lasted for more than two hours, and the final 20 contestants received free T-shirts from the Grace College department of admissions. Reneker’s Sport of Warsaw donated a trophy for the winner of the knockout game. |