LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- The women's basketball team recently continued Bellarmine Athletics' and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's initiative to create a better community by building a Chain of Love for the Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The team set a goal of every player selling 25 strips of paper at $1 apiece, with each slip having a short message written upon it. “Every slip of paper had some encouraging words on it, whether it was a Bible verse or just a smiley face,” said senior forward and SAAC President Lauren Jones. “There was even one that had 'We love you' written on it by a 5-year old in her cute handwriting.”

After surpassing their goal of selling 400 strips and raising $475 for Make-A-Wish, the Knights fastened the chain together to take to Make-A-Wish in hopes that it will bring inspiration and support to children battling terminal illness.

Since forming a partnership in 2003, NCAA Division-II and the Make-A-Wish Foundation have raised more than $1.9 million through contributions from student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans. Through these donations, Make-A-Wish has been able grant countless wishes to kids with terminal disease.