For the sixth straight year, the Notre Dame basketball team is hosting a fundraising game for a deserving charity and like most years, the cause hits close to home.
This year, in conjunction with the teams’ home game with rival Hamden on Friday, the basketball team is partnering with the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) to raise money and awareness to benefit juvenile diabetes. The game tips off at 7 pm in Alumni Hall.
Juvenile diabetes hits home for this year’s Notre Dame team as senior Jaiden Kimbro (New Haven, CT) has a younger sister, Ava, who suffers from the disease.
“My family and I appreciate Coach Shea taking on this cause for the charity game,” said Kimbro, who is averaging 13.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in his senior season for the currently undefeated Green Knights.
Kimbro added, “Diabetes has affected her life in a lot of ways. She deals with it every day with her insulin and pump. She hasn’t had a normal childhood for the last five years. I hope we can raise a lot of money to help find a cure.”
“I am so proud of the team and their dedication and heart-felt approach to this event each year, especially with this disease affecting one of our family members” said head coach Jason Shea, whose teams have spearheaded past fundraiser nights for cancer, sickle cell disease, homelessness, and Alzheimer’s in his five years as head coach.