Autographs by Cougar greats will help fund training program

Notable athletes will make their way to Pullman this week for “Champions for Kids,” an autograph session to support the Regional High School Athletic Training Program.

The training program presented by Pullman Regional Hospital and Colton School District provides athletic training services for student athletes during practices, games and camps. It also provides treatment for injured athletes, free of cost, at the hospital's outpatient physical therapy clinic. The contract was recently expanded to include the Garfield/Palouse, Pullman and Potlatch school districts. A certified trainer, with up to two WSU student athletic trainers, will be provided to serve each school.

Tickets must be purchased for the Champions for Kids event. Ticket options include either a VIP experience or a regular ticket. The VIP ticket cost is $150, and it includes one autograph from each champion as well as pre-event one-on-one time and photo opportunities. The regular ticket costs $75 and includes one autograph from each champion, and the individuals will be organized into groups based on order of purchase to receive the autographs. Individuals may bring their own items to have signed, or items will also be available for purchase on site.

The VIP experience will be from 1:30 to 2 p.m., and the regular experience is booked from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is on Saturday, Sept. 2.

There will also be a silent auction during the event. Most of the items are signed 8x10 photographs of notable athletes.

The champions attending Saturday's event include Drew Bledsoe, a 14-year NFL quarterback and four-time pro-bowler who played for the Cougars from 1990-92; Mark Rypien, a Super Bowl MVP and former NFC player of the year who played for the Cougars from 1981-85; Jason Gesser, former Cougar quarterback from 1998-2002 who led the Cougs to a Rose Bowl and was named Pac-10 player of the year; Mack Strong, a 15-year NFL fullback and two-time pro-bowler who played for the Seahawks for his entire career starting in 1993; Jack Thompson, a three-time all-American and former NFL quarterback who played for the Cougs from 1976-78; Rueben Mayes, a two-time pro-bowler who was named the NFL rookie of the year in 1986, earned a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame and played for the Cougars from 1982-85, and Connor Halliday, former WSU quarterback who holds the NCAA single-game passing record with 734 yards against the California Golden Bears in 2014.

More information at http://www.pullmanregional.org/ champs4kids.