Wheaton Athletic Mentors to run third annual Big Event, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp to receive proceeds

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton Athletic Mentors (WAMs), a leadership group of student-athletes from each of the college's 21 varsity sports programs, will host the third annual Big Event to promote sobriety among college students and to contribute to the local community. Proceeds from the event will be donated to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a residential summer camp and year-round center that provides a special haven for children with serious illnesses, which is located in Ashford, Connecticut, and was founded in 1988.

The two-day program, which begins on Friday, February 9, is designed to raise awareness about alcohol misuse and abuse by establishing a ''dry'' weekend on campus and sponsoring numerous social events and activities for students. As part of the effort, the college is encouraged to not issue approval for any events that include alcohol service during the weekend.

A full schedule of events is planned for both days, beginning with illusionist Jason Michaels on Friday at Cole Memorial Chapel at 8:00 p.m. The popular open microphone night in Chase Round Dining Hall at 10:00 p.m., complete with food and a raffle, will conclude the evening's festivities. On Saturday at 7:00 p.m., Lazer Tag in Emerson Gymnasium and the Big Event Carnival in Beard Field House highlight the evening. Fun, food, games and music until 11:00 p.m. are scheduled for Beard, featuring a mechanical bull, mechanical wave rider, toilet-bowl racing, sumo wrestling, giant slide and inflatable twister.

The WAMs are selling black Big Event T-shirts for $5 each and blue Wheaton bracelets for $1 apiece as a way for people to publicly show their support for the event. Donations are also being accepted campus wide.

The purpose of the WAMs is to provide a forum for the student-athletes and to serve as a liaison between the student-athletes and the Wheaton administration at both the academic and athletic levels. The WAMs design and implement programs to encourage academic achievement, health promotion and social responsibility to enhance the student-athlete experience.

For nearly two decades, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has provided opportunities to special needs children with life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, HIV/AIDS and blood disorders. Each summer, more than 1,000 seriously ill children enjoy a unique camping experience that promotes joy, builds courage and instills hope--at no charge to campers or their families.

Through the rest of the year, the organization hosts special weekend programs for campers, their families and caregivers. They also take their programs to seriously ill children at eight New England hospitals and one clinic, and run a year-round interactive web site for campers to re-experience Camp. They rely on the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations for support each year.

Sponsors of the event include BACCHUS, Department of Athletics, Koster Insurance, Office of Alumnae/i Affairs, Programming Council, Vitamin Water and the WAMs.

For more information or to make a donation to The Big Event, contact John Sutyak at 508-286-5699 or by e-mail at sutyak_john@wheatonma.edu or Dave Cox at 508-286-3985 or cox_david@wheatonma.edu.