Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, South Carolina, held its second annual pickleball tournament last week. This year’s event was especially significant as it was held to support the school’s spirit week.
Poignant Significance
Spirit Week held a poignant significance for the family of Josh Burgess this year, and contributions made in his honor will be directed towards aiding those individuals in a similar situation to the one responsible for the tragic incident that claimed his life.
Fox Carolina reports that In December 2018, Josh, a senior at Wade Hampton, met with a fatal accident when his vehicle was struck by a driver operating under the influence and speeding in a stolen vehicle.
The 17-year-old football athlete was en route home from a Wednesday evening church service at the time of the incident.
The Family Effect
This year, the donations gathered during Spirit Week will be allocated to The Family Effect, a nonprofit organization in the Upstate region of South Carolina dedicated to combatting addiction.
The initiative extends support to those grappling with substance abuse, mirroring the situation of the driver who collided with Josh.
Lily Burgess, Josh’s younger sister, shared her reflections, “Maybe if the person that had caused the wreck had been in something like this, maybe my brother would still be here.”
Presently a 17-year-old senior at Wade Hampton, Lily herself sustained severe injuries in the accident. Her final year of high school has been marked by profound emotional upheaval. The loss of her brother is a wound that time cannot heal.
Raising Funds In Josh’s Memory
On Tuesday evening, she participated in a pickleball tournament at the Tryon Recreation Center in Greer, SC, to raise funds in Josh’s memory. Each participant in the round-robin tournament made a donation of $20. Furthermore, half-hour pickleball lessons were available for a fee of $10.
There were two tournament sessions, and players were paired with players of similar skill levels in a Round Robin Format.
For the more ambitious participants, there was an opportunity to take a shot at a pro-pickleball player, with Jayden Broderick attending from 5 to 7 p.m.
Prizes were awarded to the winners and runners-up of each tournament session and division.
The Grave Risks
Lily aims to highlight the dangers of substance abuse and excessive alcohol consumption, hoping other families will be spared from such heartrending experiences. Additionally, she wishes to impress upon fellow students the grave risks of driving while under the influence.
“It is really hard because I see a lot of people at my school going around drinking and stuff, and it’s like, you’re not really that cool,” she said. “It’s just really sad to see my peers doing the things that I know could kill them instantly.”
Contributions in memory of Josh can be made to The Family Effect or directed to his mother, Bonnie Burgess, via Venmo. All donations to Josh’s family will be channeled towards the Spirit Week fundraiser.
The Family Effect is a local charity that works to reduce addiction as a leading cause of family collapse and harm to children in Upstate South Carolina.
Greatly Appreciated
Any additional monetary donations are greatly appreciated and will further the WHHS Spirit Week and The Family Effect fundraising efforts.
Wade Hampton High School takes great pride in its selection for this year’s charitable cause, the Center for Developmental Services.
This organization is dedicated to assisting children facing developmental delays by establishing a unique partnership that connects individuals and families in Greenville with a wide range of services encompassing developmental assessment, treatment, education, legal assistance, and emotional support.
Every contribution received will be channeled directly to the Center for Developmental Services.
A Meaningful Impact
The financial contribution from Wade Hampton will have a meaningful impact on the Center for Developmental Services by:
1. Furnishing essential services to children with disabilities. The allocated funds will be utilized for educational initiatives, guidance, tutoring, hosting family-oriented events, and family support.
2. Addressing infrastructure concerns, including the installation of new playground surfacing for the medically fragile daycare facility on-site, procuring necessary treatment equipment, and rectifying issues such as a leaking roof.
The continuation of vital programs like Spirit Week, which touches the lives of numerous individuals annually, hinges on the generosity of donors. Each dollar contributed represents an investment in enhancing stamina and fortifying the local community in the Greenville area.
Make your online donation by clicking here.
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