On Wednesday, April 15, at 7 p.m., Shoot Hoops for MPS Awareness will take place in the Pitt Center. Seniors Adam Podesky and Nicholas Richard, along with junior Tyler Walles, organized the event to raise money and awareness for the National Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) Society.
According to Podesky, MPS is a rare inherited genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to break down complex sugars. This can lead to damage across multiple organs and systems. MPS exists on a spectrum of severity, and individuals affected by MPS often require lifelong care. Symptoms can appear at different stages of life, which can make early diagnosis difficult.
Contributed by Adam Podesky
“MPS awareness is important to me because I was diagnosed with MPS at the age of 3. I understand firsthand the complications and challenges that can be involved with having MPS,” said Podesky.
Shoot Hoops for MPS is a student-versus-faculty basketball game that allows faculty to interact with students in a non-traditional way.
“Faculty here at Sacred Heart, especially in the Welch College of Business and Technology and Sport Management program, take so much pride in showing up for our students in and out of the classroom. This event provides a unique opportunity to take the classroom outside the traditional learning environment and into a sports setting, where faculty and students can come together for a great cause. In doing so, this really illuminates the SHU experience, where I believe so much of the faculty truly pour a lot into our students, and the students can really see and feel how supported they are when we physically show up for them,” said Dr. Kristina Hoff.
Podesky founded this event at his high school during his senior year; however, this is his first time facilitating the event at SHU.
“I heard about the event through Adam. He told me about his high school event, one of the first times I met him. Now, a couple of years later, he brought up the idea of doing it at Sacred Heart, and I was immediately on board for it,” said Richard.
Podesky, Richard and Walles have set a $5,000 fundraising goal for the event. However, they also mentioned how important it is to simply raise awareness for MPS as a whole.
“We want to raise as much money as possible for the MPS Society, but just getting the opportunity to spread awareness on MPS is important. We’re all a community here, and we want to build that community up no matter what we have going on in our lives,” said Walles.
As well as raising money and awareness for MPS, Podesky, Richard, and Walles have learned about what it is like to run a sporting event and what it entails.
“I’ve learned a lot from this event, especially about event management and all the struggles that come along with it. There is a lot of reaching out to people that I’ve never met, working things out, and spreading awareness,” said Richard.
Cooper Rothman, director of the Welch Experience, will be one of the faculty members participating in the game.
“Sometimes these illnesses can feel far away if they don’t happen to us or we don’t know anyone with them directly, but Adam’s story, along with the rest of the MPS families, has really convinced me, and SHU in general, that this is a cause worth fighting for,” said Rothman.
Students and faculty can donate $5 to enter the event. It is also encouraged that spectators and participants wear purple to represent the fight against rare diseases.
