Published: May 05, 2009 11:43 pm �� �� ��

Cats raise $ for charity with clinic

It’s not Christmas, but it’s never too early to get ready.

Dalton High’s football staff will conduct its third Catamount Ladies Football Clinic on Thursday, with the proceeds going to the team’s Catamount Care Fund.

“We raised enough money last year to purchase gifts for a family of five for Christmas,” Dalton football coach Adam Winegarden said. “We really had enough to do it right and the family pretty much got all they wanted.”

Winegarden said he met with the family, got an idea what the family wanted and coaches and players then went shopping for the gifts. The players wrapped the gifts and helped deliver them four or five days before Christmas. They also spent time with the children after the excitement of unwrapping the gifts was over.

“I tell you one thing,” the coach said. “It made my Christmas and it was great for the players to help somebody else and experience that. Funds from the ladies clinic made that possible.”

Winegarden said 35 to 40 ladies attended last year’s clinic, designed to give the women an inside look at football. He’s hoping to have 40 or more women attend this week’s clinic. The fee is $20 and the clinic starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Dalton High School. Participants will receive a T-shirt.

Chuck Harris is the scheduled motivational speaker and the clinic includes a dinner, which will be catered by the Oakwood Cafe. Coaches will speak on various aspects of coaching the Catamounts and defensive coordinator Jim Bennett will discuss equipment, what it costs and the usefulness of protective gear.

“The ladies really had a great time last year,” Winegarden said.

Women interested in attending the clinic can call the school at (706) 876-4882 or write to Winegarden at [email protected].

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