Helmet Pads – Play Hard – Stay Safe The Record and Bear Country Radio Join Forces to Raise Funds for Local Football Teams to Reduce Concussions
By Emily Wright
CLINTON COUNTY – The safety of our local high school athletes is a top priority for The Record and The Bear. In an effort to give back to the community and prevent the likelihood of concussions on the field, the two media outlets have joined forces to create the “Helmet Pads – Play Hard – Stay Safe” fundraiser to support the football programs.
The fundraiser aims to raise funds to purchase helmet guards for the football helmets worn by players at Jersey Shore Middle and High School, Bucktail Middle/High School, and Central Mountain Middle and High School. The helmet guards that will be purchased for local teams have been proven to reduce the number of concussions sustained by football players during their season and provide them with better protection while they’re on the field. With the support of the community, this initiative will not only improve safety measures but also provide a better experience for our young athletes.
The fundraiser is being run through the Bear Country Christmas Wish non-profit organization. The funds raised will go towards purchasing the helmet pads, which cost approximately $75 each, for football players at Jersey Shore, Central Mountain, and Bucktail Middle and High Schools. 200 helmet guards are needed to outfit all of the players within both school districts.
“These pads are worn by football players in more than 3000 high schools, 300 colleges including Penn State, and in over 750 youth programs,” Karyn Stratton, Owner/GM of Bear Country Radio and “Good News” Magazine, shared. “So far, they’re only worn during practice, but a recent endorsement from the NFL may change that. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced just this week that players can now use Guardian Helmet Caps during pre-season, regular season, and playoff games,” she added. According to Stratton, studies have shown that helmet guards can reduce the number of concussions sustained by up to 52%.
With Bear Country Radio broadcasting Jersey Shore Area football games and The Record/The Record Online broadcasting Central Mountain Middle and High School games, Stratton said that in an effort to raise more funds for the cause, she reached out to Michael Frank, Owner/Publisher of The Record—The Record Online, to team up in hopes of outfitting every football player with a helmet guard.
Stratton will be handling the distribution of funds for Jersey Shore Middle and High School, and Frank will handle the distribution for Central Mountain and Bucktail Middle and High Schools.
“The Record’s mission is to be the voice of Clinton County and beyond, and we’re glad to collaborate with Bear Country Radio to help support our high school athletes and increase their safety on the field,” Frank said.
The Record and The Bear are not profiting from this initiative, and all the proceeds will go towards improving safety measures for local football players. Any excess funds will be donated to future sports equipment purchases for the two school districts.
“We are pleased to be working together to make our community a safer place, and we appreciate your support,” said Stratton and Frank in a joint statement.
To contribute to the “Helmet Pads—Play Hard—Stay Safe” fundraiser, the link to the GoFundMe page is available on the Facebook pages for The Record Online and Bear Country 99.9 FM—WQBR or click here https://gofund.me/1e246095
Every contribution, big or small, counts towards a safer and healthier football season for our teams.
