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Thoughtful Bucs tackle juvenile diabetes
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| Beloit College’s defenders will try to pile up pledges along with tackles this season. Joe Goldufsky is pictured in the inset. Staff photo by Rob Lucas |
By Jim Franz
Sports Editor
Beloit College football team partners against disease
Joe Goldufsky wanted his final year of playing football at Beloit College to be more than just about wins and losses.
The senior defensive tackle found the perfect solution.
With nearly every positive play by his team this fall, whether it's a touchdown or a tackle, the Buccaneers won't be the only ones celebrating. Thanks to a fundraising program established by Goldufsky and supported by his teammates and the college athletic department, the Bucs are teaming with the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association to help children battling Type 1 juvenile diabetes.
“We're raising money through per game pledges for tackles, touchdowns, field goals and just about everything else,” Goldufsky said. “We have nearly everyone covered on the field.”
The “Pump Up the Bucs” fundraiser is a reference to the insulin pumps the team hopes to help provide children through its partnership with the non-profit charitable foundation.
The senior said informational brochures went out to the parents of players and various supporters of the college notifying them of the pledge campaign. Donations are tax-deductible.
“It's a season-long project,” Goldufsky said. “We'll also be asking for donations and we'll be selling T-shirts. All the money we raise will be donated to the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association. The foundation is based in South Carolina, but it works throughout the United States helping children and adults with diabetes. By working through the association we'll be able to see more results because it receives lower costs on diabetic equipment and supplies.”
Goldufsky said the charity was close to his own heart. He was diagnosed in the summer of 2000 with juvenile diabetes.
“I've been taking insulin shots for the longest time, but on New Year's Eve I switched to an insulin pump which I now wear all the time,” he said. “It has given me a lot more freedom. It monitors exactly the amount of insulin I need. I thought I would have some difficulties playing football with it, but it's a pretty durable piece of equipment and we put a molded cast around it and pad it. It's not something you notice. I don't think I'll have any problems.”
The fact the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association works toward providing insulin pumps for children especially appealed to Goldufsky.
“Joe is to be commended for his efforts to assist our organization,” Charles Ray III stated. “He has the weight on his shoulders of being an academic scholar and performing productively on the football field, plus he controls his own diabetes. The world needs more people like Joe.”
Goldufsky said it may be his original project, but now he's just one guy trying to make some profitable tackles. The whole team has come on board.
“I just had the idea and it has taken off,” he said. “I thought it would be a great way to look back at the end of our season and no matter what wins or losses you have you'll know you played to your fullest and you did something bigger than just play the game of football.
“Everyone has supported it. Coach (Chris) Brann and the athletic department were gung-ho about it. I also have guys from my fraternity house, basketball and baseball guys helping out working tables during games. We have a lot of people involved. It's not just me. I think I got the ball rolling, but the credit goes to them.”
Goldufsky said he would like to see the program picked up and continued through the Bucs' basketball season.
The Bucs are headed to Waukesha, Wis., to play Carroll College in a 7 p.m. game Saturday. Both teams won their openers. Beloit dropped MacMurray at home, 27-17, while Carroll thumped North Park College, 55-14.
As good as the offense was against MacMurray, with freshman running back Terence Steward rushing for 141 yards and a score, the defense made big play after big play. The Bucs had four takeaways.
“When you hold someone to 30 yards rushing you can't be displeased,” Brann said. “This week will be a better barometer as to where we are and where we need to improve.”
Brann appreciated the fact the tackles were equally dispersed among the defenders last week.
“I think you're going to have a better, more stabile defense if you can do that instead of having one guy dominate the tackles,” he said.
Joe Goldufsky wanted his final year of playing football at Beloit College to be more than just about wins and losses.
The senior defensive tackle found the perfect solution.
With nearly every positive play by his team this fall, whether it's a touchdown or a tackle, the Buccaneers won't be the only ones celebrating. Thanks to a fundraising program established by Goldufsky and supported by his teammates and the college athletic department, the Bucs are teaming with the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association to help children battling Type 1 juvenile diabetes.
“We're raising money through per game pledges for tackles, touchdowns, field goals and just about everything else,” Goldufsky said. “We have nearly everyone covered on the field.”
The “Pump Up the Bucs” fundraiser is a reference to the insulin pumps the team hopes to help provide children through its partnership with the non-profit charitable foundation.
The senior said informational brochures went out to the parents of players and various supporters of the college notifying them of the pledge campaign. Donations are tax-deductible.
“It's a season-long project,” Goldufsky said. “We'll also be asking for donations and we'll be selling T-shirts. All the money we raise will be donated to the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association. The foundation is based in South Carolina, but it works throughout the United States helping children and adults with diabetes. By working through the association we'll be able to see more results because it receives lower costs on diabetic equipment and supplies.”
Goldufsky said the charity was close to his own heart. He was diagnosed in the summer of 2000 with juvenile diabetes.
“I've been taking insulin shots for the longest time, but on New Year's Eve I switched to an insulin pump which I now wear all the time,” he said. “It has given me a lot more freedom. It monitors exactly the amount of insulin I need. I thought I would have some difficulties playing football with it, but it's a pretty durable piece of equipment and we put a molded cast around it and pad it. It's not something you notice. I don't think I'll have any problems.”
The fact the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association works toward providing insulin pumps for children especially appealed to Goldufsky.
“Joe is to be commended for his efforts to assist our organization,” Charles Ray III stated. “He has the weight on his shoulders of being an academic scholar and performing productively on the football field, plus he controls his own diabetes. The world needs more people like Joe.”
Goldufsky said it may be his original project, but now he's just one guy trying to make some profitable tackles. The whole team has come on board.
“I just had the idea and it has taken off,” he said. “I thought it would be a great way to look back at the end of our season and no matter what wins or losses you have you'll know you played to your fullest and you did something bigger than just play the game of football.
“Everyone has supported it. Coach (Chris) Brann and the athletic department were gung-ho about it. I also have guys from my fraternity house, basketball and baseball guys helping out working tables during games. We have a lot of people involved. It's not just me. I think I got the ball rolling, but the credit goes to them.”
Goldufsky said he would like to see the program picked up and continued through the Bucs' basketball season.
The Bucs are headed to Waukesha, Wis., to play Carroll College in a 7 p.m. game Saturday. Both teams won their openers. Beloit dropped MacMurray at home, 27-17, while Carroll thumped North Park College, 55-14.
As good as the offense was against MacMurray, with freshman running back Terence Steward rushing for 141 yards and a score, the defense made big play after big play. The Bucs had four takeaways.
“When you hold someone to 30 yards rushing you can't be displeased,” Brann said. “This week will be a better barometer as to where we are and where we need to improve.”
Brann appreciated the fact the tackles were equally dispersed among the defenders last week.
“I think you're going to have a better, more stabile defense if you can do that instead of having one guy dominate the tackles,” he said.
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