Wisconsin men’s basketball head coach Bo Ryan and his wife, Kelly, will host the Charity Stripe Challenge, a fundraiser for Coaches vs. Cancer and The American Cancer Society, Thursday at the Kohl Center.
The Ryans will donate $1 for every UW-Madison student who comes to the arena between 3 and 7 p.m., and each student will have the opportunity to shoot a free throw and a half-court shot on the Kohl Center floor.
The Ryans will donate $10 for every free throw made and $1,000 for each half-court shot made, and students who connect from long distance will also win men’s basketball season tickets.
Ryan said at his Tuesday press conference that Thursday’s fundraiser is primarily an effort to raise money for cancer, but he also noted the event is a student affair; Badger basketball players will make appearances throughout the afternoon.
Many basketball programs host some sort of “Midnight Madness” event to kick off the season, during which the players are introduced in a prime time, bells-and-whistles atmosphere.
“I’m not into the rah-rah Friday night things,” Ryan said. “I kind of wanted to do something with the students that was maybe a little more meaningful for the students.”
Beyond the shot to win season tickets, students will also have the opportunity to win various raffle prizes, including autographed basketballs and $250 Best Buy gift cards.
Ryan said his players will be allowed to participate in the event but won’t be eligible to win any prizes.
“Here’s an opportunity,” Ryan said. “Meet the team, raise money for a chance to be a part of beating this dreaded disease.”
