In a joint school effort, both Union and Midway high schools hope to turn the Spartan gym red with “Rock the Beat” t-shirts as the cross-county rivals go head-to-head next Thursday, Jan. 17, on the basketball court.
The athletic departments, along with Union’s Beta Club, and Sampson Community College, are all trying to raise awareness of heart disease through this basketball game.
This is a subject near and dear to Midway principal Stuart Daughtry, who had a heart attack and triple bypass surgery in December 2003.
“I’m glad our school is involved in this. It’s a worthwhile project because heart disease affects so many close to all of us,” he said.
Spartan athletic director and varsity boys head coach Tim Pope is just as passionate about raising awareness about this deadly disease.
“Heart disease is the number one killer of citizens in the United States. Someone dies from it every 35 seconds and it’s the number one killer of women,” Pope declared. “We’re just trying to raise that awareness.”
“The shirts are $15 and that includes your admission to the game. Both schools are selling them,” explained Pope. “If you can’t get one in advance, we will be selling them at the door, too,” he added.
They have 400 shirts and want to sell all of them. “We want everyone in the stands to wear a red “Rock the Beat” t-shirt. Our goal is to turn the gym red,” he said.
Games start at 4:30 pm with the junior varsity boys. SCC students will be set up in the lobby by 5:30 pm to perform free blood pressure checks and give CPR demonstrations.
Pope said fans can also purchase $1 heart cutouts during the game to be displayed in memory or in honor of loved ones and friends that suffer from the disease.
“I think it’s great that both schools are working together for a common cause. Everyone can relate to this because everyone knows someone affected by heart disease,” Pope added.
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