The Dr. Charlie Hufford’s Rollers bowling team, made up of Ole Miss student pharmacists, raised more than $3,000 for cystic fibrosis research at a recent fundraising event with a 1950s theme. Photo courtesy of Gaston Box
OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi student pharmacists bowled for a cause recently as a group of them formed a team for the Bowl for Breath fundraiser to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The team finished second overall in the Oct. 9 fundraising competition for the most money raised, finishing with $3,422.
A local resident’s son who has cystic fibrosis inspired the student pharmacists to participate, said Gaston Box, a second professional year student who serves as the School of Pharmacy student body’s interprofessional practice and education liaison. Those diagnosed with cystic fibrosis have a buildup of mucus in essential organs, particularly in the lungs, which can cause breathing problems, and in the pancreas, which can cause digestive issues.
“Our bowling team wanted to raise money to help him and so many others fight this terrible disease,” Box said. “Multiple teams bowled against each other for fun, but with one common goal to fight cystic fibrosis.”
The late Charlie Hufford was a bowling enthusiast and served as inspiration for the team, made up of UM student pharmacists. Submitted photo
The team name, “Dr. Charlie Hufford’s Rollers,” was inspired by the late Charlie Hufford, the pharmacy school’s former associate dean for research and graduate programs. Hufford was a talented bowler who bowled more than 30 perfect games.
“I am so proud of our student pharmacists for supporting such a worthy cause,” said David D. Allen, UM pharmacy dean. “Naming the bowling team after Charlie is a wonderful way to honor his impact on the school and his love of bowling.”
The team consisted of six student pharmacists: first-year students Mary Morgan Mohamed and Alex Dixon, both of Yazoo City, and Rachel Wooten, of Flora, and second-year students Rachell Denney, of Oxford; Nason Wise, of Grenada; and Box, of Madison.
“We knew exactly what to name our team after Dean Allen told us about Dr. Hufford,” Box said. “By naming our bowling team ‘Dr. Charlie Hufford’s Rollers,’ we were able to support cystic fibrosis research while honoring a man who was dearly loved by the School of Pharmacy.”
Donations for the fundraiser can still be made at https://olemisspharmacybowling.passioncff.org/. The students also held a raffle with prizes donated from different businesses to raise money before the event.
“The community of Oxford was so giving and kind,” Box said. “Without our local businesses, the raffle wouldn’t have been possible. I hope those who participated in the raffle and donated felt that they were part of our fight to end cystic fibrosis.”