Eric Montross (of the 1993 UNC National Championship Basketball Team) puts on a Fathers’ Day basketball camp every year in Chapel Hill to raise money for the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. This year was the 16th year of the camp.
I have volunteered as a father to underprivileged campers (through my sister who is a social worker) at the camp for the last 7 or 8 years. The current men’s and women’s UNC basketball players serve as camp counselors. It is very cool to see kids meet the guys and girls that they watch on television.
As you can see from this story, it’s a great event and a very worthy cause. The back story of the camp is even better. Eric formed a friendship with Jason Clark while he was playing for UNC. Jason was a terminally ill patient at the Childrens’ Hospital at the time. Jason eventually passed away, but Eric and Jason’s family teamed up to create the camp to raise funds for the hospital.
The camp has raised close to $1,000,000 so far for projects that the hospital’s budget does not cover. It is a privilege to be involved in the camp in a small way.
On a more personal note, the young man that I have “parented” the last few years recently found out that he had a tumor on his spine. It was thought to be cancerous. He’s 13. Fortunately, the tumor was removed successfully, and was not cancerous. Huge relief for everybody that knows him. And a reason to be thankful for all the good things in life.
To learn more about the Montross Camp or make a donation, click here.