Point Marion man holdling free basketball camp for children
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Michael Weitzeil is planning a free basketball camp to be held at the Point Marion Community Park in July.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Michael Weitzeil is planning a free basketball camp to be held at the Point Marion Community Park.
When Michael Weitzeil was challenged to come up with a way to complete 50 hours of community service as a requirement of his pathologist’s assistant program at West Virginia University School of Medicine, he decided he wanted to do something of value and something enjoyable that could positively impact young people.
So the first-year grad student came up with the idea of putting on a free basketball camp for kids in Point Marion, where Weitzeil had settled with his wife and three daughters.
“I could have donated blood, or some people run races and raise money for charity, but I wanted to do something of value — not just for those who participate, but for me, too,” said Weitzeil, who stands at 6-feet, 9-inches tall and has played basketball all his life, including playing for Adams State University in Alamosa, Colo.
“When I was at a young, influential age, when my friends were out drinking and doing drugs, I was playing ball. It kept me from going down a path I might have gone down otherwise,” said Weitzeil, 29. “Playing ball teaches hard work, discipline and perseverance, and I see how it taught me blue collar attributes that can be applied in real life, too.”
Weitzeil said that the idea for the free camp for kids who have recently gone through grades 2 through 8 was well-received when he first introduced it to Cheryl Germain, program director of the Pathologists’ Assistant Program at WVU.
“To take on a program like this — such a rigorous grad program, is such an undertaking,” Germain said of Weitzeil’s character in general. “He’s very warm, very caring — not only about the kids in Point Marion, but he also helps his classmates.”
Although not a resident of Point Marion, Germain said that through her relationship with Councilman Patrick Kelley, she is aware of some of the problems the borough has had, such as when the facilities at the community park where the basketball camp will be held were broken into and stripped of wiring and equipment in March.
“I was so upset when I heard about that,” she said, adding that by participating in the camp, the kids of Point Marion may learn to better appreciate their park. “And Michael is the type who would instill some pride in them about their surroundings,” she added.
“My program director has been my biggest support with advice and direction. I brought the idea up with her and she thought it was a great idea,” said Weitzeil, adding that Germain suggested that he present his proposal for completing his program requirement to the Point Marion Rotary Club and the borough council’s Parks and Recreation Committee.
Weitzeil said he plans to send a basketball home with each child who participates in the camp, slated for July 23 to 26.
“Hopefully, they will continue being athletic,” he said, adding that he is seeking volunteers to assist with the camp as well as additional donations to help defray the cost and allow more children to join.
Weitzeil said he can afford about 40 basketballs for kids to take home with donations already received from the rotary club and Dicks Sporting Goods, but is hoping to expand the opportunity to even more children.
“I am really pleased that Michael, a newcomer to Point Marion, has volunteered to undertake such a huge project as organizing a free basketball camp for the kids in Point Marion,” said Councilwoman Victoria Evans, who also heads the park committee.
“I hope parents and kids take advantage of this opportunity and come out and participate in the camp or help make the camp successful. The more hands on deck the better the camp will be for those involved.”
For more information, or to register or assist with continued fundraising efforts, visit the Point Marion Basketball Camp page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/715876858456158/