Oct. 17, 2002

LAFAYETTE, Ind. - On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Boilermaker softball team stepped away from the spotlight of on-field action and blended into a crowd of hundreds to make a difference in the community by participating in the annual Hunger Hike in downtown Lafayette. The 7K walk/hike, which began on the steps of Riehle Plaza and ran along the wooded Wabash Heritage trail, was organized to raise money for the Lafayette Food Finders Bank, the Lafayette Urban Ministry and for hunger relief efforts in Haiti.

Many groups from Purdue also joined in the community effort, including the cross country, women's golf, and crew teams. However, it was the softball squad that received the prestigious "Golden Sneaker Award" for collecting $600, the most contributions of all Purdue organizations.

"I asked many of the students in my pharmacy classes to give a dollar or two and, I ended up getting close to $70 just in pocket change," senior outfielder Andrea Roush said.

Head coach Carol Bruggeman said the team's goal for the Hike, as well as throughout the year, is to help the community. The recognition was an added bonus.

"We were pleasantly surprised to win the Golden Sneaker Award, although that was not our ultimate goal," Bruggeman said. "The goal of participating in the Hunger Hike was to fund and raise awareness for those less fortunate. It is an annual goal of our softball program to participate in a minimum of two community service projects throughout the year. For the amount of support we receive from the community, the time we spend in a community service project is a small token of our appreciation."

The Hunger Hike allowed the team the opportunity to not only make an impact locally, but around the world as well.

"It was our most successful hike yet and needed more than ever, as food supplies are low while demand is increased," Patti O'Callaghan, Director of Social Justice for the Lafayette Urban Ministry said in a letter to coach Bruggeman. "Because of you, children in central Indiana and Haiti will have a better quality of life and perhaps, not go to bed hungry tonight."

The Boilermakers will be back on the field on Feb. 7-9, when they kick off the 2003 season at the Triple Crown Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla.