What started as a one-time event to raise awareness about cancer has turned in to one of the most anticipated charity events on the Madison campus. On Wednesday, it was time for the third annual #MakeBoPay event at the Kohl Center, and boy did the students make Bo pay this year.
The annual Bo and Kelly Ryan Shooting Down Cancer event was a huge success, with over 2,200 students packing in to the Kohl Center. Bo and his wife, Kelly, would donate $1 for every student who showed up at the Kohl Center during the event, $10 for every student who made a free throw and $1,000 for anyone who drained a half-court shot.
On Wednesday that meant Bo and his wife were hit up to the tune of $53,355 dollars by themselves and with matching donations from Ab Nicholas, George Hamel, Mike Shannon, Ricky Sandler and Wade Fetzer the 2014 total added up to a staggering $276,775.
“It’s exciting to think about what this event has turned into in three years and I’m truly proud of our student body, the volunteers and everybody who helps make this successful,” Bo Ryan said. “With the money the students raised and the matching donations it shows how special this campus and community are.”
Over the three years of the event, Ryan and everyone else associated with the event have raised a total of $384,184.
In addition to raising money for cancer research, students had a chance to win UW basketball tickets, gift cards, adidas prize packs and one lucky student will win a moped donated by Mad City Power Sports.
A record 2,255 students participated, draining a total of 46 half-court shots Wednesday afternoon.
Ryan enjoys seeing the students come out and making him dole out the money, but for him it’s about making sure a cure is found right in Madison.
“I love how this event brings the campus and our basketball team together for a great cause,” Ryan added. “The team loves interacting with their fellow students and it’s fun to be able to bring students onto the Kohl Center floor and get to know them.
“I still strongly believe that the cure to cancer will be discovered right here at UW-Madison and hopefully raising over a quarter million dollars today will help.”
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