LSU Law students were engaged in full pad, full-contact tackle football for 15-minute quarters to send a sick child on a dream vacation.
The students hosted the seventh-annual Barristers Bowl on Saturday, a charity fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, at BREC’s Olympia Stadium.
Donations from the bowl will go toward 8-year-old Trevor Sims’ dream trip to Disney World. Sims suffers from stage IV embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma— a form of cancer found in both soft and muscle tissue.
“We are so grateful that they were able to do this and help make Trevor’s wish come true,” said Allison Sims, Trevor’s mother.
Money from the event was raised through sponsors and a silent auction held at Bogie’s. According to Dixon McMakin, the league’s commissioner, the league met its goal to raise $7,000 at the event.
Paul M. Hebert Law Center students were in control of every aspect of the event — players, commissioner of the club, coaches, commentators and even the cheerleaders were students.
The Barristers Bowl was first put on in 2005 as a way to give back to the community. For the past three years, the fundraiser has benefited children involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. All three children that benefited from the Barristers Bowl in past years were present at the game and were recognized at halftime.
According to Jackie Heroman, development coordinator for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Law Center had approached them looking for ways to give back to the community. Heroman said Sims was chosen as a participant of the Make-A-Wish Foundation after being classified by his doctor as having a life-threatening illness.
“Thank you so much for everything you do. You provide us one chance that lasts for a lifetime,” Heroman said in a speech thanking the crowd for their contributions to the Barrister Bowl charity.
Jen O’Connell, a student at the Law Center and cheerleader at the game, said it was a good opportunity to have fun for a worthwhile cause. O’Connell said the cheerleaders practice three times over the year to get ready for the event under the guidance of former LSU cheerleader and current Law Center professor Heidi Thompson.
Onside kicks and a number of fumbles and quarterback sacks defined the game, and that was only in the first half. The Purple team came out on top, beating the Gold team, 12-6. Chris Caswell of the Purple team was named the game’s MVP.
The roster for both teams featured a few skilled players who had experience playing on the collegiate level. Charles Watkins, a defensive and offensive lineman for the Gold Team, said he had previously played at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before he came to the Law Center.
“I love football, and it’s for a good cause,” Watkins said. “Nothing’s better than when kids like Trevor come out here and you get to talk to him. It’s awesome.”
 
 
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Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at [email protected]