University of Richmond Athletics
Men's Basketball Takes Part In Tuckahoe Middle School Charity Game To Benefit Arthritis Foundation
04/23/2009 | Men's Basketball
April 23, 2009
PHOTOS 
| SpiderTV: SPIDERS RAISE MONEY FOR ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION 
RICHMOND, Va. - The Richmond men's basketball program participated in a charity game at Tuckahoe Middle School for the second-straight year to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation.
Due to a rule change last summer that makes seventh and eighth graders prospects, undergraduate team members were not allowed to play in this years game, but the coaching staff along with graduating seniors Johanna McKnight of the women's team participated.
This years game raised over $1,600 bringing the total money raised in the name of Tuckahoe Middle School student Dymond Carle to almost $4,500 over the past year. Carle suffers from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
"We had a great time again this year, even though our players weren't able to play against the faculty," Richmond head coach Chris Mooney said. "We still had a tremendous time with our staff playing and our graduating seniors. We had a great time last year, they asked us to do it again and we were more than happy to oblige."
Last year's game, which featured members of the Richmond men's basketball team playing against the Tuckahoe faculty raised over $2,300, while a special night for Dymond at Richmond's win over Duquesne on Feb. 11 at the Robins Center raised almost $500. At that game, Dymond and her family sat courtside on press row and were greeted by the Richmond players and coaches before the opening tip.
As appreciation for the Spiders help in raising money for the Arthritis Foundation, Dymond presented Mooney with a plaque commemorating last year's game and a thank you card that said, "it is very nice of you to volunteer your time and effort, and your team, just to help me support the Arthritis Foundation. I really appreciate that and saying thank you isn't enough."
Undergraduate members of the men's basketball team were allowed to attend the event and signed autographs for a long line of Tuckahoe students long after the final buzzer.
"Really it was a great time overall and we're so happy to be involved in everything that we do in the Richmond community," Mooney said.
