<strong>CoSIDA</strong> E-<strong>Digest</strong> <strong>January</strong> <strong>2013</strong> <strong>•</strong> 8
Giving back to our own: SIDEARM Sports’ “Movember” fundraiser total $16,000+ for Abilene Christian SID Lance Fleming’s family photo: Abilene Christian Assistant AD for Media Relations and his late son, Rex. All through November, SIDEARM Sports ran its 2nd annual Movember campaign to raise money for cancer research and prevention. Last year, the monies collected were donated to the national “Movember” organization. This November’s fundraising effort, however, had a decidedly personal touch. The SIDEARM effort, led by CEO and President Jeff Rubin and creative director Chris Kirkegaard and hundreds of <strong>CoSIDA</strong> members and friends and associates of SIDEARM, raised an astounding $16,106.00 by the end of November. This year, 100 percent of the SIDEARM contributions were earmarked for the family of 10-year old cancer victim Rex Fleming, the son of Abilene Christian University Assistant AD for Media Relations Lance Fleming. When Rex was diagnosed two years ago at the tender age of eight with brain cancer, the family was told that Rex only had a 30 percent chance to make it to his 13th birthday. In late fall, the family received devastating news that the cancer was irreversible. In November, with the “Movember” campaign well underway, Rex lost his battle, passing away on Nov. 25. <strong>CoSIDA</strong> members were asked to participate in the Movember fundraiser in two ways: one, by growing mustaches/facial hair and raising funds. There would be a contest where the “best” facial hair growth - as voted on by <strong>CoSIDA</strong> members and SIDEARM colleagues. Second, for those not participating in the contest, they had the option of sending in monetary contributions. An impressive 122 contestants, clean-shaven in by Barb Kowal, <strong>CoSIDA</strong> Director of External Affairs <strong>CoSIDA</strong> E-<strong>Digest</strong> <strong>January</strong> <strong>2013</strong> <strong>•</strong> 9 October, put away the razors for the month of November and began fund-raising in earnest. Contacting <strong>CoSIDA</strong> members via email letters, social media, blo and the SIDEARM and <strong>CoSIDA</strong> websites, the friendly contest and serious fundraising efforts began in early November. Contestants from across the country and all divisions of college athletics participated. And monies began to flow. Both Rubin and Kirkegaard are professors in Syracuse University’s iSchool, and those faculty and staff members contributed mightily too. Participants shared their stories and promotioned their efforts via social media competing for “School Spirit Stache,” “Thanksgiving Stache” and “Best Overall Stache.” Women also were involved, taking photos of themselves using print-out mustaches provided on SIDEAM’s website. Rubin and Kirkegaard have very personal connections to their Movember fundraising efforts these last two years. In October of 2011, Kirkegaard approaching his boss Rubin and suggested they do the first “Movember” campaign. He was looking to support the cancer fundraising effort after his mother lost her battle against cancer a mere five months earlier. Monies raised in 2011 went to the national “Movember” organization. This year, however, the story of Rex Fleming tugged hard at Rubin, the father of two, and he felt an immediate connection between the “Movember” campaign and raising awareness for Rex Fleming’s plight. SIDEARM Sports dedicated their fund-raising efforts to the Rex in the hopes that the 10-year old would win his
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