GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Thanks to the generous contributions of its supportive fan base and the perseverance of its student-athletes to remain dedicated to a worthy cause, the Gettysburg College baseball team has surpassed its long-term fundraising goal of $100,000 in its Take ALS Yard campaign to support Project ALS and the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
 
Take ALS Yard completed its ninth year and began when Head Coach John Campo and then Take ALS Coordinator Nate Simon '14, set out to raise money to support medical research to support treatment and find a cure for ALS. The disease has profoundly impacted the Bullets baseball family with the loss of Tommy Kirchhoff, son of Bill '63 and Jean '64 Kirchhoff, and Robert Borman P'05, father of former baseball player Rob Borman '05, within five months of each other in 2014-15.   
 
"Our Take ALS Yard campaign has been a major component of our program since 2013, and our teams have taken great pride in being a part of it over the years," said Campo, who completed his 35th season at the helm in 2021. "To reach this milestone is a tribute to not only our 2021 team, but also the combined efforts of all our teams, campaign coordinators, and supporters over theses last nine years."
 
Past fundraising activities have included a home run derby and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for students and staff. The team has also traditionally sold hats and t-shirts at games during the regular season, but all of that was put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the team relied strictly on donations and supporters rose to the challenge in dramatic fashion, raising more than $20,000 this past year.
 
Additionally, the Kirchhoffs, namesakes of the Gettysburg baseball field, contributed a $15,000 challenge gift when the team met its initial $15,000 benchmark. The fundraising effort generated more than $35,000 total for the year and vaulted the program's nine-year fundraising sum north of $110,000. All proceeds support Project ALS, which identifies and funds the most promising research that will lead to the first effective treatments and a cure for ALS.
 
"We cannot thank Mr. and Mrs. Kirchhoff enough for this generous commitment and for their steadfast efforts to support Gettysburg Baseball's ALS fundraising initiative throughout the years," stated Take ALS Yard Co-Coordinators Erik Wortmann '21 (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) and Dan Ball '21 (Bernadsville, N.J./Bernards) in an update to supporters earlier this spring.
 
While the initial idea was developed by Campo, the management of the effort has been overseen by members of the team, starting with Simon in 2013. Coordinating the Take ALS Yard effort has become a badge of honor for the student-athletes chosen to carry on the fundraising legacy and the next coordinator will team with Campo to set higher goals as the team continues its Take ALS Yard campaign in the future.
 
"We are honored to partner with Project ALS in our continued fight to find a cure for this horrible disease and dedicate our efforts in memory of Tommy Kirchhoff and Bob Borman," said Campo. "Thank you again to everyone for your generosity and support of our Take ALS Yard campaign."