Photo Courtesy SOMC Media Relations

From left to right, Pee Wee coach Eric Horton, Athletic Trainer Nate Franky, Exercise Physiologist Brad Zieber and Superintendent Neil Leist pose for a picture after SOMC donated 40 helmets to Eastern Local Schools.

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SOMC Release

Building a football program from the ground up is no easy task, but Eastern Local Schools recently received a boost in its effort to do just that: A donation of 40 helmets, courtesy of Southern Ohio Medical Center.

“This is only the second year that we’ve offered football to our kids. To get through our first season, we had to borrow helmets from other schools,” Eastern Superintendent Neil Leist said. “Thanks to SOMC’s donation, we won’t have to borrow things to get our kids through next year.”

In addition to providing 40 helmets for Eastern’s Pee Wee and Jr. High football teams, SOMC also donated helmets to programs at East, Notre Dame, Minford and Northwest.

In all, 89 helmets were distributed. SOMC obtained the helmets from St. Brigid of Kildare Schools in Dublin.

Not only do the donations make it possible for local kids to emulate their idols from collegiate and professional football, it also lifts a tremendous financial burden off of the schools. New Pee Wee football helmets can cost around $130 each.

Brian Muck, who is with Minford’s Jr. High football program, said the donation was especially helpful for his team because it will help replace helmets that need to be retired from service.

“Each year we send the helmets to have them reconditioned,” Muck said. “They’re only good for so many years before they have to be thrown away.”

In addition to donating equipment to local schools, SOMC also supports local athletes through the SOMC Sports Motion program.

Sports Motion is a sports medicine program that provides a scientific approach to the full continuum of care from injury prevention and performance improvement to treating injuries and rehabilitation.