HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker College women’s and men’s basketball teams will play their final regular season games on Saturday (Feb. 28) against Tusculum College. In addition to the game, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will host its second ‘Make-A-Wish Day’, an event to raise funds and awareness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Coker Athletics and the SAAC are honored to be a part of the NCAA Division II Make-A-Wish initiative,” said first-year SAAC advisor, Sharod Williams. “We take great pride in working alongside the Pee Dee Chapter of Make-A-Wish to recognize the recipients of wishes and their families. We hope to continue this partnership for many years to come and continue to raise awareness for those battling life-threatening illnesses.”

This year, SAAC will honor four-year-old Make-A-Wish recipient, Braylin Wilds, from Hartsville, S.C. Braylin, who has undifferentiated sarcoma, had his wish granted earlier this year by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to go to Disney World.

Braylin will be an honorary member of the men’s basketball team and will receive a game jersey. At halftime of the men’s game Braylin and his mother, MaKayla Benjamin, will be recognized and presented with a game ball.

“We are happy that Coker and the Pee Dee Chapter of Make-A-Wish chose Braylin to be recognized,” said Benjamin. “The Coker basketball players have welcomed Braylin and are so genuine and have really taken an interest in having us around. This is something we will remember for a long time and are thankful.”

Donations can be made prior and during the game, with all funds raised going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Make-A-Wish stars will be given to donors that can be placed on the Make-A-Wish Wall in the lobby of Coker’s DeLoach Center.

More About Make-A-Wish

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that arranges experiences to children with life-threatening medical conditions.