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If you build it, they will come. This line was made famous in the motion picture Field of Dreams but made a reality when more than 290 local area participants attended the 3rd annual Perseverance Basketball Camp at the Eglin Fitness Center recently. Ran by a host of Eglin, local community and even some Dayton, Ohio, volunteers, the free camp focused on the fundamentals of basketball as they relate to teamwork, individual responsibility, situation assessment and making effective decisions for youths ages 7 to 16. The camp's founder, Master Sgt. Ronald Rucker, began and ended each day with basketball fundamentals and words of encouragement to participants. Although the camp was at no cost to its participants, Rucker states there was a price to pay. "The kids are told that the camp is free as far as money is concerned, but payment is due," he said. "This payment is in the form of attention during the camp, and respect for their parents, others, and for themselves after the camp. Our goal is to get through to our youth about self-development and basketball provides a great medium for this purpose. For example, just as dribbling improves a player's ball handling, reading improves a student's vocabulary," Rucker said. That comparison can be made and, at the same time, get a noteworthy message across. Apparently, the messages were well received by the participants. "My children loved the camp. We are already making plans to return to Florida for the 2003 camp," said Rochelle Jones, who brought her children to the camp. Her family has moved, but she plans to bring them all the way from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to attend the camp next year. "What a wonderful camp," said Suzanne Rucker, wife of Ronald. "I was so impressed with the volunteers' commitment to the youth in our area and knowledge of basketball." Rucker states it wouldn't have been such a success in recent years without the help of a lot of people and organizations to include the 96th Air Base Wing's leadership, fitness center personnel and the camp's tireless volunteers and coaches. "The camp is a blessing and I will continue to be a part of it," said Master Sgt. Gean Alston, who is in his first year as a volunteer for the camp. "We all have positive things to pass on to our youth and the camp is a great place to make that delivery." Staff
Sgt. Jerron Barnett |
