In order to honor the battle that sophomore Brigette Schutzman is fighting after her car accident Monday, Dec. 31, the Saint Louis University track and field team is in the process of planning an event to show support for Schutzman and her family.
A standout on the cross country and track teams, Schutzman was making her way to a friend’s house in Peoria, Ill., for dinner on New Year’s Eve when the car she was driving slid across a patch of ice into oncoming traffic.
A vehicle in the oncoming lane collided with Schutzman’s car at a 90-degree angle on her side. She was initially brought to a hospital in Peoria, where she was in intensive care, but has since been moved to Methodist Hospital in her hometown of Indianapolis, Ind., where she has been making improvements toward recovery.
The team is leaning toward a “relay-type” event to be held at a local track sometime in early March, according to Tim Hamilton, a captain of the men’s track and field team. The night before the race, the team is planning to host a dinner, which will include a silent auction to help raise money.
“We’re trying to help out Brigette and her family with some of the expenses of her medical care,” Hamilton said. “During difficult situations like this, the logistics of certain things can be forgotten. We’re just trying to help out where we can.”
Schutzman spent her freshman track season setting school records in the 800-meter for indoor and outdoor track and as earning third at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships in the same event.
The relay would feature team members alternating 800-meter legs on the track for a set overall distance. There would be a base donation amount to participate, and each team would be encouraged to find sponsors to donate in order to raise additional funds.
All proceeds would go directly to the Schutzman family to help offset the cost of her treatment.
“Brigette’s event is the 800-meter, so what better way to honor her than to have tons of people out on the track running for her?” Hamilton said. “There is not too much that we can do individually, but as a team and a SLU community, this is a great way to honor Brigette and what she stands for.”
More information about the event will be made available around campus as final arrangements are confirmed.
