Alexander and Shrum Team Up for Chilly Cowboy Fundraiser
STILLWATER – Last week certainly qualified as “chilly” but Oklahoma State Cowgirls softball standout Chelsea Alexander and the First Cowboy, Darren Shrum are hoping you will participate in the upcoming Chilly Cowboy. The Chilly Cowboy is a two-prong fundraiser with the funds going to help Special Olympics and special education in the Stillwater area. Of course, Oklahoma State University has long been the enthusiastic and welcoming host of the Oklahoma State Special Olympics.
“My little brother has Down’s Syndrome and was diagnosed shortly after he was born,” Alexander said of her devotion to this cause that she and Shrum have worked on together. “He (her brother) is 12 and about to turn 13 and the Polar Plunge and Special Olympics has been a big part of my life growing up. When Caden was born it really changed things in my life, in our family, and this has been really important to me to give back in any way that I can.
“It is easy for me to see how important that Special Olympics is to both the Oklahoma State and the Stillwater community,” Alexander continued. “I just thought it was perfect for us to give back, for the athletes in the OSU community to give back.”
The husband of Oklahoma State University President Dr. Kasey Shrum, Darren has been a special education teacher and has been involved in this cause. He told me that he and his wife, a former college softball player have known Chelsea since she arrived at Oklahoma State and that getting together on this project kind of organically happened.
“I would just echo off what Chelsea said in how important this is,” Shrum added. “How important the Stillwater and Oklahoma State community are to Special Olympics and special education community.”
Shrum said the Chilly Cowboy starts on Saturday at halftime of the final home basketball game with the Cowboys hosting Texas Tech. Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy and the team will be presented with the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl trophy from the win over No. 5 Notre Dame back on Jan. 1.
“We will auction four gift baskets, and these are really worth in excess of $1,500,” Shrum said. “Chelsea and others did a good job of getting donations from businesses tied to Oklahoma State and Stillwater. Then we have a game-used helmet from the Fiesta Bowl singed by Coach Gundy and it is my favorite helmet from last season, that black helmet with the script Cowboys logo on it.”
A special treat thought of by Shrum is that Oklahoma State red-shirt freshman defensive tackle Aden Kelley will be the auctioneer. Kelley, from Thomas, Okla. has done some auctioneering and is working to be an auctioneer. Kelley will have some of his football teammates there to serve as spotters.
The next step to the Chilly Cowboy is a “polar plunge” Monday at noon at the Student Union Plaza on campus. There will be a tank filled with water and various individuals including Shrum, Alexander, Coach Gundy, softball head coach Kenny Gajewski will jump in. Monday’s high is right now projected to be 50 degrees, so it will be just a little chilly for sure.
“I want to see both Coach Gundy and Coach Gajewski get completely under the water,” Shrum said. “They have some hair that can get sufficiently messed up. I want to see that.”