Self hopes to raise $500K with fundraiser at Kansas Speedway
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- What Bill Self first envisioned as a way to raise money for a worthy cause is turning into one of the biggest outdoor parties thrown for Kansas fans.
Energized by the NCAA basketball championship Self's Jayhawks captured in April, an estimated 1,200 people are expected to gather on the infield of Kansas Speedway on Saturday for "Bill's Basketball Boogie."
Self is hoping to raise $500,000 to help design and build a wellness center for children.
Organizers say fans are flying in from New York, California and points in between, snapping up a chance to party with the coaches and players who brought home their first basketball title in 20 years.
"We were going to have the "Basketball Boogie" regardless of how our season turned out," Self said. "Now this has become a big celebration for our fans. It'll be the party of the summer."
It won't be a party for the average fan. Tickets are $250 apiece, but fans can get a picture with the national championship trophy.
Auction items include a collage of Sports Illustrated covers with Kansas athletes, vacations to New York and the Cayman Islands, and a car.
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