Senior project turns into a fundraiser for leukemia patient

By Mike Hackworth

(Updated: Friday, May 09, 2008, 5:53 PM)

On Sunday, Badgers Stadium will echo with the sounds of football, but it's not quite what one might expect.

A youth football clinic will take place from 3 until 5 p.m. and will provide some insight for junior football players into what it takes to play the game.

The clinic is the senior project of Shawn Hackworth, who was a first team, all North Sequoia League defensive end selection in 2007 and led the Badgers in tackles.

"I wanted to center my senior project on something that I know, and I felt that I could impart that knowledge to local kids who dream of playing football," Hackworth said. "I'm not an expert by any stretch, so I will have several of my former teammates join me in doing the clinic."

The one-day event is also a fundraiser for Samantha Grijalva, a 2002 Yosemite High School graduate who was diagnosed with acute lymphocyte leukemia. Grijalva has been undergoing chemotherapy, but because she has what is called the Philadelphia chromosome, which allows her cells to mutate back into leukemia, required a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, her brother T.J. Grijalva, a 2004 Yosemite High School graduate, was a match, and on April 21 the procedure took place.

The disease has taken its toll both physically and financially on the family, so the clinic asks for a $5 donation and all proceeds will be turned over to the family to defray medical expenses.

The fundraiser aspect was added after the project was conceived.

"I am asking for a $5 donation, because it will go to someone who really needs our help," Hackworth said. "No one will be turned away from the clinic, but the donation is the right thing to do."

Boys and girls ages 6-14, are welcome to come out to the stadium and learn proper technique and fundamental footwork, body position and an overall understanding of the game of football.

The clinic's "no contact" format allows each kid to learn the fundamentals of running, throwing, blocking and tackling in all positions in a safe and fun format. There will be Yosemite High School coaches in attendance. The only equipment the kids need to bring is a pair sneakers. Free T-shirts will be given to the first 20 kids who arrive.

"We will have a sort of inter-squad touch-football game to wrap up the day," Hackworth said. "That way they can apply some of what we teach them in a game."

"The kids don't have to have any previous football experience," Hackworth said.

"Just bring a desire to have fun while learning some aspects of the game of football."

The senior project gives seniors an opportunity to incorporate their interests, passions and ideas into a concept or project will also provide them an opportunity to demonstrate autonomy, awareness and execution in successfully completing a project of their own making.

For more information on the clinic call (559) 760-1820 or send a donation to: Cindy Grijalva FBO, Yosemite Bank, Coarsegold Bank, 35335 Hwy. 41 Ste. 6, Coarsegold, CA 93614.