Westwood community pitching in to help injured football player
Since Sept. 5, the Westwood High School community has done its best to rally around Mark Mickens and will do so again this weekend.
The inaugural Taste of the Town and Benefit Auction will be held Saturday at Westwood High School with the proceeds going to the Mickens.
Mickens, a junior defensive back, suffered a severe neck injury during a game against Clover that left him paralyzed. The goal of this weekend’s event is to raise $10,000 toward purchasing a van for the Mickens’ family to help transport him to his various rehabilitation places during each week.
"In 2013, our former Principal, Ralph Schmidt, gave us the vision ‘We are Westwood, We are family.’ The donations and commitment towards helping this young man and his family have embodied that vision 100 percent," Westwood head athletic trainer Jason Nussbaum said. "We have had an overwhelming response so far, and have received some awesome items. With the items we have in place so far, that ($10,000) is a very realistic goal as long as we have a good turnout on Saturday."
Mickens will be at the event to thank those who have supported him.
"I have good faith in God and want to persevere," Mickens said on a video promoting the event. "I know the first step in recovery is keeping a good spirit."
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Westwood. There will be games, eating contests, food vendors, raffles and an auction which will end at 4 p.m.
There are nearly 100 items up for bid at the auction. Some of the top items include an autograph polo by Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, an autograph helmet by former South Carolina standout Marcus Lattimore, an autographed football by former Alabama and NFL running back, an autograph baseball from Ray Tanner, autographed basketball from Gamecocks women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley and an estate planning package.
Helping hands
What: Taste of the Town and Benefit Auction
When: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Westwood High School
For more information or to donate:
https://sites.google.com/a/richland2.org/mickensauction/.
This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Westwood community pitching in to help injured football player."