Fundraiser set for late Bennett student

A fundraiser originally planned to help 12-year-old Sammy Hamza’s family with medical costs will still go on this Friday, Feb. 5 after the sad news that Hamza passed away Saturday from leukemia. 

The event called “Hoops for Hamza”, named after Hamza’s love for basketball,  will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bennett Middle School. The event will feature two student versus staff basketball games, the boy’s team versus the male staff and the girl’s team versus the female staff. 

The fundraiser will also feature a silent auction.

Funds from the event were originally set to go benefit Hamza’s family, however his father requested all the proceeds go to the leukemia and lymphoma society.  

All this is being planned by a local Destination Imagination team, you can find a link to their event page here. 

Normally Destination Imagination teams puts on plays said team member Alex West, but the students in his group decided instead to do something for their classmate Sammy. 

“We we decided to help Sammy because he went to our school and we wanted to something social service for a change,” West said.

The groups plea is simple, they want more people to come so they can raise more money. 

“We just need everybody’s help coming out to the event to raise more money,” said Grayson Nichols. 

Hamza’s number 22 jersey will also be retired in the rafters at the school during the event. 

Counselors will also be made available by the school should any students or staff need help processing their grief.