First-ever Maddie Potts Fitness Challenge held in Kingston

August 11, 2018 8:43 pm

By John Krinjak

Email: jkrinjak@abc6.com

Twitter: @johnkrinjakABC6

KINGSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A little rain didn’t stop hundreds of people from hitting the fields at the University of Rhode Island in memory of Maddie Potts.

The 17-year-old Chariho High School student collapsed on the field last September, while playing her favorite sport–soccer.

"No one can make this better, but every single person has kept this from getting worse," said Maddie’s mom Stephanie Potts.

Organized by her fellow students, the Maddie Potts Fitness Challenge brings together all sorts of athletics. Each activity represents one of Maddie’s personality traits–from self-confidence to determination.

"To see all of our work come together, to see all of these yellow shirts and realize how many people wanted to volunteer to help her, it’s amazing. It’s the community that I think everyone should be a part of," said Maddie’s best friend Alexandra Williams.

The hope is to make the fitness challenge an annual event.

"Of course we all want Maddie back," said Stephanie Potts. "But in my mind it’s kind of given us all an opportunity to pay tribute to her and the friendships that they had with their team, and really let her be their captain for another day."

Proceeds from today’s fundraiser benefit the Maddie Potts, which provides scholarships to athletes from Chariho High School.