A project by a pair of Vanier Collegiate students will aim to raise funds for Kidsport while testing just how quick and accurate participants are when it comes to shooting basketball free throws.
The local high school will be hosting the Hoops for Sports Free Throw Competition from Tuesday through Friday next week, with scores recorded throughout the event and prizes awarded to the top shooters.
The project is the brainchild of Vanier Grade 11 students Kate Waldenberger and Jesse Mielke, who put things together as their Catholic Studies school project.
“We kind of got our inspiration from our school, they hosted something like this to raise funds for Down Syndrome so we followed that idea to raise funds for Kidsport,” said Waldenberger, a member of Vanier’s city and provincial champion girls basketball team. “We really agree with their mission and thought we’d help out.”
The event will take place every afternoon from Tuesday, May 30 through Friday, June 2 during Vanier’s lunch hour from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For $2, students will have one minute to drain as many shots as they can, with person with the highest total receiving a prize at the end of the week.
Things ramp up on Friday during the corporate and community event, where participants will put $10 toward the charity and take their shot at racking up the most baskets to emerge as the corporate champion.
“We’re really hoping for a good turnout and we’ll be able to raise as much money as we can,” Mielke said.
Kidsport has become an exceptionally valuable program for youth in Moose Jaw, as the organization helps cover costs and registration fees for youngsters from age five to 18 so they can get involved in sports.
Applications can cover up to $500 per child per year, with Kidsport having helped 255 youngsters to the tune of $65,912 in 2022 alone.
For more information on Kidsport, including to apply for a grant, visit www.kidsportcanada.ca/saskatchewan/moose-jaw/.
