Kappa Sigma will be holding a basketball tournament in Stopher Gym March 22 benefiting Nicholls student Myron Wright. Wright suffered a spinal cord injury leading to quadriplegia while playing football during his sophomore year of high school.

Wright will be using the funds collected and donated to participate in Project Walk in Carlsbad, Calif., later this month.

Project Walk is an exercise-based spinal injury recovery center with four locations in the United States.

The money raised will help cover the cost of the program, which amounts to $1,800 a week, and a total of $43,000 for six months.

Kappa Sigma has taken Wright’s cause as a charity project for the chapter, Brad Benoit, the chapter’s philanthropy chairman, said.

The tournament is open to everyone, and side donations can also be given. Benoit said $52,000 has been raised so far, and the goal is simply to raise as much as possible to cover the cost of the program along with any extra spending money needed.

The cost per person to participate is $10 and $30 collectively as a team. It will be held in Stopher Gym from 10:00 am-till, and anyone wanting to sign up should call (985) 413-1183.

“When I go there, I want my main focus to be on work and trying to get out of this wheelchair,” Wright was quoted as saying in a The Nicholls Worth story run on Sept. 27, 2007. “I don’t want to worry about how I’m going to get to this place or if I have the money to go one more month at the center.”

“[Project Walk’s] goal is to get you out of the wheelchair instead of teaching you how to adapt to the situation,” Wright said. “I want somebody’s goal to be the same as my goal – getting out of the wheelchair.”

Those wishing just to watch and not participate are free to do so. Nicholls students get in free along with persons 12 years and under, while a $1 entrance fee will be collected from all spectators who do not fall into the two previously mentioned categories.

There have been numerous fundraisers held for this cause so far, not only by Kappa Sigma, but also by various groups in the community.

Anyone who wishes to help those individuals with spinal cord injuries along with Wright can make direct donations to the Project Walk Centers.