HAVERFORD, Pa. – Haverford College hosted the Billy Lake ALS Basketball Marathon on Oct. 18 at the Gardner Integrated Athletic Center for the fourth straight year. Bringing awareness to the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), the event raised $26,725 towards research efforts by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Association.
The basketball marathon featured games running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Several high school teams participated in the event, as did local personalities and coaches, and the Philadelphia Phillies' ballgirls. St. Joseph's men's basketball head coach Phil Martelli and Villanova women's basketball coach Harry Perretta were among the notable local sports coaches that attended the event.
The Haverford College women's basketball team is serving as the host for the event in honor of Libby Meeks, the mother of former Ford captain Dominique Meeks '13. Libby Meeks passed away from ALS in August of 2013 after battling the disease for more than 15 years. Members of the team will also honor Meeks by walking in the Richmond, Virginia ALS Walk later this month.
The marathon honors the courage of Lake, a Havertown resident, who succumbed to ALS in 1992 at the age of 42. Proceeds from the event also fund the Billy Lake Memorial Scholarship which has enabled over 20 students to attend Monsignor Bonner High School.
The athletic department also hosts the Joe Schwartz '83 Memorial 3K Run/Walk every spring which donates proceeds to The ALS Association. During the seventh installment of the run in 2014, $10,000 was donated, making it the most successful event yet. During the event's seven years, the run has raised over $33,000.