Rochester College Hosts Second Annual Benefit Basketball Tournament for ALS

Rochester College announced that it will once again host the Travis Bass Classic Benefit Basketball Tournament for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) On Thursday, October 23 at 6 p.m., at Rochester High School located on 180 South Livernois Road in Rochester Hills, MI. travisbass

The event honors Travis Bass, a collegiate football teammate and best friend of Rochester College’s men’s head coach, Klint Pleasant. The two met in 1994 at Abilene Christian University and remained close friends for years after their collegiate football playing days were over. Travis was diagnosed with ALS in 2007 and fought hard for four years before passing away due to complications from the disease in May of 2011. Travis and Coach Pleasant shared an incredible bond. They traveled all over the country together and not a day went by, until Travis was too weak to do so, that they did not talk.

The tournament consists of two days of both men’s and women’s collegiate basketball action. Rochester College men’s and women’s basketball teams will be competing on Thursday, October 23 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Saturday, October 25 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Teams in action will be the Rochester College and Redeemer University College men’s and women’s basketball teams.

The event will raise more awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which gained much attention over the summer through the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a fatal condition that completely robs its host of all movement from walking to even blinking. It traps a fully functioning mind in an immobile body before finally taking away life itself.

The ALS Association Michigan Chapter will be present at the event with an information table. The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships. The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.

Visit RC.edu/travisbass for more information on this event.

About Sarah Hovis

Freelance wordsmith, arts appreciator, grammar geek, sports spectator, stationery snob, and world traveler, Sarah charts her own course as the owner of saliho creative. She uses her creative mind and engaging dialogue to fearlessly bring the written word to life in print and online… all while keeping a watchful eye out for the next literary adventure. You can reach her at sarah@rochestermedia.com.

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