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Posted: Jan 12, 2015 12:12 PMUpdated: Jan 12, 2015 2:06 PM
Former Bartlesville Player Enlists Coach For Help
A connection made in Bartlesville has led to the Go Purple Games in Southmoore on Tuesday night. The games between Southmoore and Edmond Santa Fe will help raise money for awareness of Rett Syndrome
DJ Hackney's daughter, Kara, has Rett Syndrome. It is a rare neurological disease that impedes the development of a child.
Seven-year-old Kara cannot eat or walk on her own because of Rett. Hackney, who grew up, and played basketball, at Bartlesville High, describes the disease. Rett is incurable and there is no treatment for it. In fact, it is hard to even diagnose at first. It took doctors almost a year to figure out exactly what Kara had. Hackney says that makes it even harder on parents of children with the disease.
Hackney's daughter, Rachel Hackney, 16, wanted to help. Through a project in her speech class, Rachel and her father got the idea of using a sporting event to promote awareness and raise money. DJ explains how this came about.
Hackney thought of current Southmoore coach Wes Brown, who used to coach at Bartlesville high school. Hackney talks about the rest of the process of making the Go Purple Games a reality.
The games made about $3,000 last year. Hackney says that the group has gotten the word out better this year, but donations are lagging behind a bit.
Hackney's father, Jerry, still lives in Bartlesville, and DJ said they visit multiple times each year. DJ lives with his wife Kristina and children Kara, Rachel, Bennett and Grayson in the Oklahoma City-area.
If you would like more information on the games or on how to help out, go to the Go Purple Games Facebook page.
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