Rocky Mount, N.C. - The N.C. Wesleyan Department of Athletics is continuing its celebration of Division III Week with the third of four features highlighting each aspect of its 4C Philosophy. Thursday's focus is Community Involvement.
"Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can."
John Wesley's famous quote embodies our commitment to Community Involvement at North Carolina Wesleyan. From our yearly 9/11 Initiative that recognizes local law enforcement and firefighters, to our P.L.A.Y. program (Promoting Literacy Among Youth) which sends our student-athletes into the local schools to serves a tutors and mentors, service projects play a major role in the lives of our Battling Bishops from the moment they arrive on campus. Additionally, there are league-wide programs such as the USA South's Cans Across the Conference and Pennies for a Purpose projects, while several individual teams participate in their own programs such as after-school tutoring, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, and KIX, to name a few.
During Division III Week, however, let us focus on two of the Bishops' more recent undertakings: the Gift of Life Registry and Kids Vs. Cancer.
With the Gift of Life Marrow Registry as their chosen charity for this year's Pennies for a Purpose project, Wesleyan's Vice President of SAAC and Vice President of Operations for Delta Phi Epsilon, Lexi Rhodes, put together a bone marrow drive on Monday, April 3rd to event kick off the final week of collections, as well as Division III Week.
"Gift of Life is an organization that deals with blood cancer, which 360 people are diagnosed with each day," explained Rhodes. "The organization raises money and awareness for the disease, and also hosts bone marrow drives where you can become registered as a donor."
The drive was held from 12pm to 4pm on the Southern Bank Green, and several members of the NCWC community had their cheeks swabbed to be put on the bone marrow registry, giving many the chance to someday be a donor and save a life. With collection jars available for the Pennies for a Purpose initiative, the event also sought to honor the 5-year old son of Delta Phi Epsilon's international coordinator, who was diagnosed with leukemia last semester.
Another key project involved baseball's partnership with the Vs. Cancer organization for a second straight year. The Bishops set aside April 1st at Piedmont College at their varsity promotion day, while Tuesday's JV game at Bauer Field came on the second day of D-III Week and wrapped up collections. With all proceeds going to benefit national childhood cancer research, as well as kids directly undergoing treatment at a local children's hospital, the Bishops are proud to announce that upwards of $4,000 was raised for the cause, bringing their two-year total to over $11,000.
These are a mere sampling of ways our Battling Bishops embrace Community Involvement. As a department, we are committed to doing all the good we can, by all the means we can, in all the ways we can, in all the places we can, at all the times we can, to all the people we can, as long as ever we can!
Certainly, John Wesley would be proud.
Division III Week is being celebrated April 3-9 and aims to highlight the impact of Division III student-athletes on their campuses and in their surrounding communities. Below is a breakdown of Wesleyan's Division III Week schedule.
MONDAY, APRIL 3
Daily Focus: Division III Video featuring NCWC Student-Athletes & Coaches
Additional Event: Pennies for a Purpose / Bone Marrow Drive (12-4pm, Southern Bank Green)
TUESDAY, APRIL 4
Daily Focus: The 4C Philosophy: Character Development
Additional Event: JV Baseball Wraps Up Kids Vs. Cancer Drive at Bauer Field (3pm)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5
Daily Focus: The 4C Philosophy: Classroom Success
THURSDAY, APRIL 6
Daily Focus: The 4C Philosophy: Community Involvement
Additional Event: Final Day of Pennies for a Purpose Collections!!!
FRIDAY, APRIL 7
Daily Focus: The 4C Philosophy: Competitive Excellence
Additional Event: TEAM WESLEYAN Day! Wear your Wesleyan apparel and/or team colors!