This weekend’s “Lay Up a Treasure” event at Morton Junior High School offered children a chance to stay up late and shoot baskets all night long.
Out of the 65 participants there were a total of 125 shifts, each lasting one hour. The event began at 7 p.m. Friday night and ran through 7 p.m. Saturday — 24 hours of nothing but net.
The event was more than an opportunity for students to stay up past midnight. It was the result of planning on behalf of three junior high students who wanted to do something to help Haiti which was devastated by an earthquake.
It was a success, said organizers Kate Byrne, Delainey Ryan and Kelsi Dahms. They were able to reach $3,000 in their goal to top $5,000.
“I think it’s just a matter of wanting to help out (Haiti),” Byrne said.
“We wanted to do something,” added Dahms.
Ryan said it felt good to be a part of a fundraiser for a good cause.
The idea to shoot layups for 24 hours straight seemed like an entertaining way to attract participants, said Byrne.
In fact, the gym was busiest during the wee hours of the morning, Dahms said.
“I think, near the end of the hour, people started getting a little tired,” Dahms said. “I thought people did a good job of keeping up.”
Students sought pledges for each layup they made. They are still seeking pledges and donations until 3 p.m. May 21.
The person who raises the most money will win $100. A school assembly will take place at 7:50 a.m. May 24 to present a check to Habitat for Humanity and recognize the participants.
During the assembly, the organizers are going to turn the project over to the seventh graders in hopes that they continue it next year.
“We really hope we can pass this down,” said Byrne.
