By Steve Sherman
BucksLocalSports Editor

Organizers are once again preparing for the annual Onward-upward Basketball Challenge. The yearly one-day hoops tourney benefiting families with kids afflicted with cancer is a fundraiser organized by several Penn State alums from Lower Bucks County.

Coming up on Feb. 13 is the eighth annual Challenge. Organizers raised more than $100,000 in the first seven tournaments. In this economy, however, the biggest challenge facing planners may come before they step one foot onto the hardwood.

Previous to last year’s Challenge, event organizers managed to significantly increase the total raised the previous year. In 2006, the year the tourney was first moved from Holland Middle School to Council Rock South’s gymnasium, the more than $14,000 amount raised was double collected the year before. In 2007, the total jumped to over $18,000 and in ’08, more than $26,000.

While the amount collected last year was more than was gathered the year before, it was only slightly more – $400.

With names like the Swooping Waltons, the Head Bandits and the Rite-Aid Raptors,  the tourney features hoops squads that play in a 5-on-5 format with at least one female on the court at all times in a double-elimination format. Trophies are given at the end of the day for the overall team champion and also for the squad that raises the most money.

Held last February in the CR South gym, DU Dynasty captured the top prize in the tournament, besting the KA Young Bucks, 38-29. Despite facing a double elimination format, DU Dynasty didn’t lose a game in repeating as champions.

Despite falling in the championship, the Kappa Alpha Order Bucks earned the team prize for collecting the largest amount in pledge money. For seven straight years, the Challenge has surpassed the previous year's earnings.

The tournament was the brainchild of Tim Chiodo and three of his former fellow Kappa Alpha order fraternity members--Adam Gentzel, Joe Worley and Randy Whiteside--all of whom had been actively involved in the marathon during their stay at Penn State.

"We all like working for this charity and we all like basketball," said Chiodo, when he directed the event in 2008. "So, we put the two together and started a tournament."

The four directed the event the first year when it was held at the Hatboro YMCA--a year in which organizers raised $3,400. Adam's wife, K.C., joined the fray the second year and in 2005, two other former Penn Staters, including Jess Muri and Langhorne resident John Mazzolla joined in putting together the event. Muri brought sister sorority, Gamma Phi Beta into the O-U hoops loop and wound up getting married to Worley before the couple moved to Wisconsin.

DU Dynasty is composed of former members of Penn State's Delta Upsilon fraternity who now reside in the Philadelphia-Bucks County region.

Captained by Adam Mills, a Wrightstown resident and a life-long friend of Chiodo (the two are 1997 Council Rock graduates), Synerfac sponsors a team in the tourney as well.

Synerfac, the technical staffing agency in Langhorne that Mills works for, also contributes as a corporate sponsor.

Where eight teams battled for the top honor in 2003, 12 squads will take the floor this year.

The monies raised through the Challenge go directly to the Four Diamonds Fund – a Penn State Dance Marathon trust that benefits families of children with cancer at PSU's Children's Hospital in Hershey.

Since 1972, Four Diamonds has helped nearly 2,000 families. Approximately 90 new families receive support each year. The Fund offsets the cost of treatment that insurance does not cover, as well as expenses that may disrupt the welfare of a child afflicted with cancer, such as car repairs, rent or household utilities.

DONATIONS

7-yr. Total: $100,742

Feb. 2009: $26,481

Feb. 2008: $26,180

Jan. 2007: $18,120

Jan. 2006: $14,104

Jan. 2005: $7,901

Jan. 2004: $4,685

Jan. 2003: $3,271

TEAMS

1. Church & Dwight Team

2. Chatham Financial

3. DU Dynasty Team *

4. Gladingators

5. Head Bandits

6. KA Young Bucks Team **

7. Pi Kap Alum Team

8. Rite Aid Raptors

9. Swooping Waltons

10. Taylor Team

11. The Recruits

12. UBS Team

* 2009 Tournament Winner

** 2009 Most Money Raised $3,845