The Work Being Done

Thanks to all of those who showed their support for our cause and helped contribute to the raising of money over this past holiday season. Our lift-a-thon was a huge success. With numerous personal records being smashed and a little over $100,000 being raised we are well on our way to Africa.

An update on the progress of our trip:

Adding the $104,000 from our lift-a-thon to the previous collection of nearly $70,000 we are closing in on our minimum total for the trip. 

A documentary on our trip has been pitched and is being finalized with the discovery channel to be aired in both the United States and Mexico.

We have had a few hundred footballs donated for the children's camp.

We have the BCS championship head referee coming to Africa to officiate our game.

There is talks of a full, $500,000 turf field being put in in the shadow of Mt. Killimanjaro for the game and to leave a gift for the people of Tanzania.

We have found out our duties for our community service project, including building a girls wing to the orphanage for which money is being raised.

Our team:

After returning to Des Moines things felt eerily different. Some faces were gone, some amazingly talented players graduated or were ready to close their football careers and move on to the rest of their lives. Some amongst us are in new positions, in slings, or have been plagued with ailments like influenza and pnemonia. Many of us are bigger from the winter lifting program and holiday feasting. But when my alarm clock rolled to 5:20 this morning I, like many others, was awake and ready for today. The beginning of the off season workouts. 6:00 a.m. our football family began a challenging and exciting workout to prepare ourselves for the spring football season, the Killi-Bowl, and foremost our upcoming season. Through a gruelling physical test of endurance and strength we competed and challenged one another not just to be better to be our absolute best. And our team rose to beat this mountain just as we intend to climb all others (both metaphorical and literal). Our senior leadership has begun to take their newer roles as the future captains and leaders. The thrill of competition drove feats of strength that showed the true metal of many, both young and old, to our program. We welcomed new members to our football family in the coaching staff and on the roster. The excitement for what lies before this team is manifesting and building into something great and powerful and we thank those who made it possible for all of this to happen because it is truly amazing to be a part of.

-EJ Walter -97-

"Don't look for a reason to quit, look for a reason to finish."