Basketball benefit to raise money for remodel
By Staff Reports
Published in News on March 12, 2011 11:27 PM
With efforts under way to build a new handicap-accessible room for David Burke at his parents' home, the youths of Stoney Creek Free Will Baptist Church are stepping up to help raise funds for the project.
On March 19, beginning at 9 a.m., Stoney Creek volunteers will be running Burke's Big Basketball Bonanza, a three-on-three basketball tournament, at the Wayne Christian School gym.
Burke, who turned 19 this past Saturday and attended Stoney Creek Church, was an avid soccer player when he became paralyzed following a freak accident during a Young Life event in May 2010.
Since then, he has spent the bulk of his time rehabbing in Atlanta, but will be returning home to Goldsboro sometime in April.
And when he does, Paula Schultze, whose son, Patrick, played soccer with David, decided she wanted to make sure he had his own space to return to, and so, working with his parents, had plans drawn up to convert a 12-by-29 foot enclosed porch into a new living space, complete with bedroom, bathroom and sitting room.
Proceeds from the tournament will go to support the project, known as Burke's Big Build, which is expected to cost about $25,000 even with local contractors donating their time and skills.
The cost for the tournament is $150 a team, with a maximum of five players on each team. Church officials are hoping for about 12 teams. Admission to the tournament will be $1. The NCAA tournament will be shown live on site and concessions will be sold. There also will be a chance to make a half-court shot for a cash prize.
Sponsors for the tournament also are being sought, and depending on their level of contribution, will be included on the sign and on the T-shirts.
For more information about registering a team, attending or sponsoring, call 735-3916.
To make a donation directly to the project, checks can be made payable to "Burke's Big Build" and sent to RBC Bank, 106 N. Spence Ave., Goldsboro, NC 27534.