Mascots from across the state face off in a charity basketball game Saturday

Mascots from across Michigan came together Saturday afternoon for the Rowdie and Friends Mascot Charity Basketball game at Central Michigan University’s Rose Arena.

The event was a five-on-five full-court basketball game played by numerous mascots in attendance. The game was sponsored by the American Lung Association of Michigan as an effort to raise money and educate the public about symptoms, causes and treatments of lung disease.

Event organizer Josh Merryman came up with the idea for the fundraiser after watching his family suffer from serious asthma conditions first hand. The annual event started three years ago, and has experienced growing success ever since.

“We had more people than the last two years,” Merryman said. “This is the third year that we’ve done it, so I hope we can do it again.”

Merryman said the event alone raised about $1,850 for the American Lung Association of Michigan.

He said one of the biggest reasons the game did better this year than last was the fact that it piggybacked off of the Central vs. Western basketball game that took place in the Rose Arena prior to the Mascot Charity Basketball Game.

CMU Mascot Basketball game from CMLifeVideo on Vimeo.

Lansing sophomore Kenneth Mans had a great time.

“It’s just something to do, something fun,” he said. “I think it’s a real good organization. It’s really good that such a great event is supporting that.”

Many of the participating mascots felt the same way about the organization.

Hastings junior Alex Kimble and Saginaw senior Jenna Urban spent the game rotating between wearing the “Tennis the Menace” mascot suit representing the Midland Community Tennis Center.

“This is a good way to make money for it,” Kimble said. “Make people more aware.”

Urban said her support for the cause is part of what drove her to wear the costume and participate in the five-on-five basketball game.

“You can’t see anything,” she said. “It’s a very narrow viewing space.”

The event was free, with donations being accepted on behalf of the American Lung Association of Michigan. Attendants could also participate in a silent auction, and help themselves to pizza provided by different sponsors.