Students at M.C. Knoll School held their second annual shoot-a-thon for charity recently. The school basketball teams, two boys' teams and two girls' teams, shot hoops to raise money for a local worthy cause. This year the recipient of the shoot-a-thon funds was the Yorkton SPCA.
Event coordinator and boys' basketball coach, Mark Schendel, says last year funds were directed to the Kinsmen Tele-Miracle, a sum of $712.60.
Schendel admits he had some personal reasons for choosing the SPCA this year. Five years ago he and his wife decide to get a pet cat for their home. Marley came into their home via the Yorkton SPCA. "I'm proud to say he is my 'bestest' buddy in the world and I'm so glad that we did go that route and did go to the SPCA for our pet," Schendel asserts.
Many of the youngsters participating in the shoot-a-thon are pet owners who got their pets from the local SPCA. As a result, Shendel states, "For a number of us, selfish reasons we were really interested in raising a lot of money for the SPCA," he adds.
He distributed the pledge forms and instructed the students to collect pledges and donations from friends and relatives. The shoot-a-thon was held last Monday from noon until 1 p.m. Forty-seven kids showed up to shoot hoops for the SPCA, Schendel reports.
Each participant took 10 shots. Recorders kept track of the number of successful free throws out of 10. Participants then went back to the people who pledged them to collect their donations, Schendel explains.
The top shooter was Grade 8 shooter Tyson Black who was successful on eight out of 10 free throws. "He brought in quite a bit of money with that as well," Schendel notes.
Some folks opted to simply make a flat donation as well.
After all the funds were counted, the shooters raised $697.50 in pledges and donations. The M.C. Knoll boys dipped into their own pockets to top up the donation to the SPCA to $700, Schendel reports.
Over two years the M.C. Knoll basketball program and the 11 to 14 year-olds in the program raised $1412.60 for charitable causes. "It's really remarkable. I'm really proud of that," he continues.
Schendel is admittedly passionate about sports because of the life skills he believes sports instill in participants. They learn about team work, leadership and commitment, and with events like the shoot-a-thon they also learn about giving back to the community. Schendel says he's proud to see the students taking pride in where they live. They are proud of Yorkton and to be able support local groups that need a helping hand.
Currently the Yorkton Elementary School Sports Association (YESSA) is wrapping up the basketball season. This year six schools, including M.C. Knoll, Columbia, Yorkdale, St. Alphonsus, St. Paul's and St. Michael's schools played inter-school basketball.
The final city championship tournament be played at the M.C. Knoll/St. Michael's School gyms April 23, 24 and 25 with the tournament final going ahead Wednesday evening, April 25.
Anyone who would like more information can call M.C. Knoll School at 786-5540 and talk to Mark Schendel.
Following the basketball, school divisions will hold outdoor track and field meets. The Yorkton and area Good Spirit School Division (GSSD) meet will be held at Kinsmen Century Field Wednesday, May 9. The GSSD meet will be the qualifying event for the East Central Track and Field Meet May 23 and 24.
Trina MacNeil of the Yorkton SPCA says the organization really appreciates the contribution of the M.C. Knoll students and is happy to accept any donations. Funds, which are needed, go to cleaning, supplies, food, any medical treatment the animals may need and the general operation of the facility, MacNeil reports.
