On Feb. 3, the ConVal boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will host a doubleheader against Souhegan. No matter the final scores, the biggest winners on that day will be Gus Dreher and others who live with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
ConVal hosted a similar event last year, the players donning bright green shoes, the color representative of DMD awareness. This year, though, the night will be a little different, according to ConVal boys’ head coach Kevin Proctor.
“It’s going to be a fun night,” Proctor said. “We’re going to have a halfcourt shot competion, rewards for the best dressed in green and all that kind of stuff.”
The plan also includes bringing the Souhegan pep band over to ConVal for a battle of the bands-type atmosphere.
The two schools getting together for this cause only makes sense. Proctor is a teacher at Souhegan, as is Gus’s father, Steve.
“The reason why we wanted to partner with Souhegan on this is because Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy hits both communities,” Proctor said. “We think between the two communities we should have a good turnout.”
ConVal’s Student Athlete Leadership Team partnered with Souhegan’s ethics forum, and the kids are planning it all it themselves, Proctor said.
“The best part about it is just to build awareness to this,” Proctor said. “This is one of those orphan diseases that doesn’t get the funds that it needs or deserves, so any penny that we can send to the Hope For Gus Foundation is huge. That’s what we’re hoping for, is awareness, and if we can raise some funds and have some fun, that would be great.”
Admission fees for the games will be lifted in favor of a by-donation entry, the proceeds going to Hope For Gus.
The games start at 5 p.m., when the Cougar girls tip off; the boys will follow at 6:30.
Oh, and if you’re looking for some good basketball along with your fundraising, you might be in luck. ConVal could win either or both games; after all, the Saber girls are below .500, at 4-5, and the Saber boys have just one win.For more information, visit hopeforgus.org.