Parrott's Rasberry supports the cause
JESSICA MORGAN - Kinston Free Press
One of Arendell Parrott Academy's most notable athletes played a different role in a basketball tournament Saturday afternoon.
While 10 three-on-three teams slowly got eliminated throughout the day, Zacchaeus Rasberry split time along the sideline and behind the scorer's table. As teams finished playing two 10-minute halves, he walked out to the court with a light green sheet of paper to manage the bracket.
Rasberry, in an effort to raise money for cancer, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes, organized the Jr./Sr. weekend for C.H.A.D. Proceeds raised from the service project will go to the Cancer Society, Heart Association, Arthritis Foundation and Diabetes Association.
These particular diseases hit home for Rasberry.
"I just thought about all of the different diseases that people in my family have; some of them have more than one," he said. "I have grandparents; they had all four diseases. It affects not only the older people but younger people. You hear about younger people having cancer, arthritis and diabetes."
The basketball tournament held at Ellis-Simon Gymnasium featured a variety of age groups and representation from several area schools. Players from Greene Central, Kinston and North Lenoir were among the participants, as one of the North Lenoir teams won the tournament.
Justin Lee of Greene Central said he learned of the event through his church.
"I said, 'Why not? I'm doing it for a good cause,' " he said. "I came out here to have fun and support (Zacchaeus). It turned out well."
Rasberry said before the event he had raised nearly $4,000 for the organizations.
Although everyone didn't get on the court to show support, some people came by to give small donations and stop in to recognize the Parrott junior for his event.
"Anything helps, and I really appreciate those people," Rasberry said. "I was thinking about all the different fundraisers I could do for a service project, and most people, they only do cancer or heart disease. I wanted to be different, and I wanted do more than one. Up to today, it's been a lot of work getting letters out and getting donations. Earlier, with the registration, people started coming in kind of slow, but we wound up with a pretty good turnout.
"It's been pretty successful."
JESSICA MORGAN - Kinston Free Press
One of Arendell Parrott Academy's most notable athletes played a different role in a basketball tournament Saturday afternoon.
While 10 three-on-three teams slowly got eliminated throughout the day, Zacchaeus Rasberry split time along the sideline and behind the scorer's table. As teams finished playing two 10-minute halves, he walked out to the court with a light green sheet of paper to manage the bracket.
Rasberry, in an effort to raise money for cancer, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes, organized the Jr./Sr. weekend for C.H.A.D. Proceeds raised from the service project will go to the Cancer Society, Heart Association, Arthritis Foundation and Diabetes Association.
These particular diseases hit home for Rasberry.
"I just thought about all of the different diseases that people in my family have; some of them have more than one," he said. "I have grandparents; they had all four diseases. It affects not only the older people but younger people. You hear about younger people having cancer, arthritis and diabetes."
The basketball tournament held at Ellis-Simon Gymnasium featured a variety of age groups and representation from several area schools. Players from Greene Central, Kinston and North Lenoir were among the participants, as one of the North Lenoir teams won the tournament.
Justin Lee of Greene Central said he learned of the event through his church.
"I said, 'Why not? I'm doing it for a good cause,' " he said. "I came out here to have fun and support (Zacchaeus). It turned out well."
Rasberry said before the event he had raised nearly $4,000 for the organizations.
Although everyone didn't get on the court to show support, some people came by to give small donations and stop in to recognize the Parrott junior for his event.
"Anything helps, and I really appreciate those people," Rasberry said. "I was thinking about all the different fundraisers I could do for a service project, and most people, they only do cancer or heart disease. I wanted to be different, and I wanted do more than one. Up to today, it's been a lot of work getting letters out and getting donations. Earlier, with the registration, people started coming in kind of slow, but we wound up with a pretty good turnout.
"It's been pretty successful."
