BUCKINGHAM — Over $7,500 was raised during a benefit basketball tournament for Buckingham’s head Football coach and physical education teacher Louis Craig Gill, which took place Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22.

The event, titled “Git It For Gill,” which drew hundreds of people, was held in the gyms of Buckingham’s high and middle schools.

Gill, who has served as head coach since 1995, was diagnosed with stage four-lung cancer in the fall, as his team competed in the regional playoffs.

The idea of holding the basketball tournament originated with the football team members, according to an event organizer. The high school’s student council association and Buckingham’s athletic booster organization then began planning the event.

“From the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank ya’ll for the support, the support you give Buckingham athletics and these young men…Buckingham is my home,” Gill commented during the event. “You don’t know how much I love being here and now much I love Buckingham. Again, I want to thank ya’ll for everything you’ve done…If you haven’t heard the latest news, my last scan showed that I am cancer free,” Gill cited, which erupted in a thunderous applause.

A team of volunteers, including Scotty Edwards, Mary Stearett, Krissy Stearett, Jack Stearett, Ramona Christian, David LeSueur, Mickey Lee, Mike Edwards, and Lisa Coleman, along with numerous others, were instrumental in the event’s success, according to an event spokesperson.

Maria Bryant, a high school student, designed the “Git It For Gill” t-shirts, which were sold during and prior to event.

The teams that competed were sponsored by Midkiff Logging, Atkinson Trucking, Heartland Homes, Taylor Boyers, Matt Allen/HSC Express, RMA/Ricky Allen, R.W. Maxey Farming, Sherron Eldridge, John Baker, and Dwayne Braxton.

The first place award went to Heartland Homes, Team Boyers took second place, while Team Underrated took third, according to event organizers.

The community donated an assortment of baked goods to sell to further raise funds, according to the spokesperson.

The name of the event came from Gill’s telling his team to “Git-R-done,” according to event organizers.

The spokesperson gives special thanks to Ed Dike, high school activities director, Roger Coleman, high school principal, the Buckingham School Board, J.B. Heslip, middle school principal, Randy Christian, and GCA, the school’s custodial firm, for their assistance and contributions.

“We are very, very grateful for the volunteers and the community for coming out and making this possible for Coach Gill,” the spokesperson concluded. “The community poured out.”