Langley, B.C. – The Trinity Western Spartans, in partnership with the Spartan Foundation, raised more than $140K to help Spartans student-athletes in need during the Complete Champion Challenge on Saturday, June 20. The six-hour sports marathon fundraiser was streamed live on YouTube from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PT).
The six-hour sports marathon featured coaches and staff cycling 100 kilometres or running 30 kilometres, while Spartans student-athletes competed in a variety of sporting challenges throughout the day.
The event was a fundraiser to help Spartans family members who have been financially burdened by the effects of COVID-19 and help TWU student-athletes return to TWU this fall.
Over the course of the six-hour stream, fans tuned in on YouTube to see interviews with athletes, alums and coaches, as well as feature videos, fun challenges and highlights from this past season. The event was streamed live from Trinity Western University, where the cyclists were riding their 100 kilometres on stationary trainers and runners were running their 30 kilometres along a three-kilometre loop around campus.
As part of the live stream, TWU hosted the Spartans Slam Dunk Contest presented by Benchmark Homes, featuring men's basketball star Ja'Qaulyn Gilbreath going head-to-head against men's volleyball star Jackson Howe. The Slam Dunk Contest started at 12:40 p.m. (PT). The judging panel included Rodney Pryor, who won the 2017 NCAA Slam Dunk Contest when he was at Georgetown University. Pryor, who played with the Fraser Valley Bandits in 2019, is a member of the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League. Pryor was coached by current Spartans men's basketball head coach Trevor Pridie when he was playing and Pridie was an assistant coach with Raptors 905 of the NBA G League.
The Complete Champion Challenge campaign has crowdfunded over $140K for athlete scholarships.
Thank you to our corporate partners Trading Post Eatery, GLC Solutions, Janzen Insurance and Apollo Signs and Graphics for supporting the Complete Champion Challenge.
WHAT?
For 6 HOURS, we will all work towards completing 1 MILLION physical reps – be it by cycling, running, walking or competing in various sporting activities – to help families in need.
WHEN?
June 20, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PT) via live-stream on YouTube.
WHERE?
From wherever they are around the world, our student-athletes and staff will be connected virtually to a HUB of 16 coaches/staff on the TWU campus and complete the challenge together. You too can join the fundraising initiative from wherever you are to participate, to donate or to watch online.
WHY?
We want to raise $100,000+ in scholarships to help student-athletes in financial need due to the current COVID-19 crisis.
HOW?
We will do 6 HOURS of physical activity (or whatever amount you can) with the goal reaching 1 MILLION physical reps TOGETHER as Spartans.
WHO?
The entire Spartan community.
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.
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About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to find and fulfill their purpose in life. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vibrant faith community devoted to supporting godly leaders seeking to have a transformational impact on culture.
For media inquiries, please contact media@twu.ca.