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09.02.2010
Local Sports: Basketball, running combine for charity

by: Bill Beck
Posted: 5/27/2008 12:00:00 AM
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ELKHART -- Adam and Caleb Reinking had a ball -- 6.2 miles worth of ball, to be exact.

 

With a goal to raise charitable funds and, more importantly, AIDS awareness in Africa, the Elkhart brothers dribbled basketballs from starting line to finish line Monday while running in the Great Race 10K.

 

An idea brainstormed by Dan Occhiogrosso, a friend of Adam Reinking when they met at Bible Baptist College in Clarks Summit, Pa., has blossomed in various parts of the country as a fund-raiser for Bethesda Outreach of Africa, a program developed to helps AIDS in African orphans.

 
Click a photo to enlarge

Occhiogrosso recently ran the New York City Marathon while dribbling a basketball, looking to gain 1,000 contributions of $10. He also has made and sold basketball skills videos for the same cause.

 

The Reinkings, Elkhart Christian Academy graduates, hoped to secure 50 donations of $10 apiece.

 

"We made our goal and above that,'' Adam, 25, said. "All of the money goes to Bethesda.''

 

A mere week and a half of planning left the Reinking brothers no time to train for the event, but both said they'd be more than willing it to do it again.

 

"We over-inflated the balls so they'd bounce better. You feel it in your triceps,'' Adam said, "but it's not like the amount you feel in your legs. It's not as bad as it looks.''

 

Caleb, 20, and a student at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, said he and his brother kept conversations going to keep focus and did a few behind-the-back dribbles while keeping pace and entertaining near-by runners.

 

"The last couple of miles were tough,'' Caleb said. "We just went for it today.''

 

On the Net:

 

www.ballforlives.com.

 

 
 
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