MORGANTOWN, W.VA. - I had just gotten back into my hotel room following West Virginia’s remarkable buzzer-beating victory over Mississippi State in the NIT semifinals when I decided to check my email.

One message immediately caught my attention. It was a note from someone asking for help. It was long -- and I usually just scan through the long ones -- but this one grabbed me by the heart.

Allow me to introduce you to Andrew Humphreys through the words of his sister Kristin:

Tony,

On Dec. 8, 2006, Andrew Humphreys, known as "Drew" by his friends and family, passed away in his sleep. He was a dedicated Mountaineer fan and it was rare that he ever missed your show. He and my father had season football tickets and even listened to you on their headphones at the games (he actually talked with Tony and many others on the MSN crew on several occasions -- Pigstock, Fanfest and any WVU event in Charleston).

When Andrew was born my parents were told that he would not live more than 10 days. He lived a happy 26 years and 10 months. He had a birth defect called “Spina Bifida,” which rendered him paralyzed from the waist down. It also caused countless other health problems that put him in the hospital time after time. But he never complained. Andrew was my brother and we were fortunate to have parents that took us to many WVU athletic events (both parents are WVU grads and still avid followers of the Mountaineers).

During his life Andrew encountered and touched many athletes from WVU. He had many surgeries and hospital stays at Ruby Memorial. In the late 80s and early 90s he was able to meet Don Nehlen and once met the entire Mountaineer basketball team at the Coliseum.

Andrew had a rich Mountaineer history. In 1995, a guy by the name of Mark Plants gave Andrew his lucky rock before he left to start his football career at WVU (Mark and I graduated together at South Charleston). In 1997, after the Gator Bowl Mark took Andrew back and introduced him to Amos Zereoue, Canute Curtis and Mike Logan just to name a few. Andrew also has a very large practice jersey that belonged to Solomon Page with his best wishes written on it. That jersey still hangs in a shadow box in his room. J.R. House was a close friend from high school and Drew's heart leapt for joy every time he played as a Mountaineer.

As you may remember on Dec. 7, rumors began to fly as we waited anxiously to see if Coach Rod would stay at WVU. My brother was somewhat of a night owl so naturally he was watching ESPN all night to see what the word was on Coach Rod. The last conversation he had with my mother was about his hope that Rodriguez would stay. He would have been pleased with the outcome.

Andrew was buried in a West Virginia Mountaineers sweatshirt; we just didn't feel like a suit was appropriate. He didn't even wear suits to church. WVU was a special part of Andrew's life. Watching and listening to the Mountaineers play, no matter what sport, brought him joy.

On what would have been his 27th birthday, Feb. 10, the men's basketball team knocked off 2nd-ranked UCLA on national television. I told you all of this for two reasons: the first reason is to thank you and WVU athletics for being a special part of my little brother's life. The second is to ask a favor of all of you at MSN.

On April 28, there will be a memorial 5K walk/run in honor of Andrew in St. Albans, W.Va. The name of the event is "Drew's Day 5K." All proceeds benefit Mountaineer Spina Bifida Camp.

Mountaineer Spina Bifida Camp is a camp where children with Spina Bifida can spend a week together. They swim, fish, play games and they even have a prom at the end of the week! Although Andrew loved Mountaineer athletic events, Spina Bifida Camp was the highlight of his year. It was always such a good time for him and his friends. He talked to a lot of those he met there on a daily basis: by phone, through email or on Instant Messenger.

Unfortunately there are some kids that cannot afford to go to Mountaineer Spina Bifida Camp. There are also many expenses in operating this camp even though it is only for one week each summer. Volunteers run the camp each year. We know that it would have been Andrew's desire to see that every child in West Virginia with Spina Bifida have a chance to go to this camp year after year as he did. I want to ask you if you would help us make that possible.

We need people to come and walk or run in the 5K. The entry fee is only $15. I will attach a copy of the entry form for anyone who is interested. Could you please announce this event on your show (or any time)? Hopefully some of the Mountaineers who listen to you all will want to participate. Those who cannot run but would like to donate:

Make checks payable to: Mountaineer Spina Bifida Camp

Alyssa Lawson
Bridgeview Elementary
5100 Ohio St.
South Charleston, WV 25309

For more info contact Melinda Gibson at tmgibson@zoominternet.net.

We hope that this will become an annual event to raise funds for Mountaineer Spina Bifida Camp. We have already heard from many who will attend.

I guess my way of helping Kristen is by asking all of you out there to help make this inaugural event a smashing success. It would be wonderful if you could be in attendance and participate. If not, please consider making a donation to the Mountaineer Spina Bifida Camp.

Stories like Andrew’s are what make being a Mountaineer so very special. What do you say we all do our part to help this wonderful cause?

Editor's Note: A story on the West Virginia Spina Bifida Camp appeared in today's Charleston Gazette.