Donkey Basketball raises $1,800 for March of Dimes
Members of the Wenatchee Fire and Rescue team compete in Donkey Basketball on Monday night. The won the championship round, 14-8.
March 25, 2015
The Wenatchee Fire and Rescue walked away as the 2015 FFA and FBLA Donkey Basketball champions and the March of Dimes Foundation received $1,800 from the 12th annual March of Dimes Donkey Basketball Tournament on March 23.
The Wenatchee Fire and Rescue won 14-8 against last year’s champion, the Mission View Elementary staff. The tournament was separated into four 10-minute games, and six teams competed, including the Pioneer Middle School staff, Chelan County Fire, Wenatchee High School FBLA and FFA.
“We really love the teams we bring in. They each bring a different flavor,” said FFA adviser Matt Asplund.
Performances by freshman Aiden Hawes and senior Kiana Wilson kicked off the evening, and during one of the halftimes the audience had the opportunity to come down to the gym floor to pet the donkeys.
Wenatchee High School FFA and FBLA members ride donkeys during the basketball game. The two clubs organized the 12th annual event.
The donkeys came from Donkey Sports Incorporation of Entiat. They travel all over the West Coast for these type of events. The cost to bring them in is on a percentage basis. They are paid based on ticket sales, but all donations go straight to March of Dimes, Asplund said.
“Attendance was down,” Asplund said, “but the amount of donations per person was much higher than last year.”
The March of Dimes Foundation funds research of prevention and treatment of birth defects and other serious health problems in babies and small children.
With this profit, this event has raised almost $25,000 in the 12 years the tournament has been held.
“We hope next year will be even bigger and better,” Asplund said.
