Basketball Tournament to Benefit JCC Swim Instructor

Youth sports coach Bob Aker always supported Josh Glazer and Adam Sadoff during swim practices and basketball games at the Jewish Community Center.

Now that Aker has been diagnosed with ALS – or Lou Gehrig's disase – the 12-year-old Mequon boys want to be there for their former coach and give him emotional and financial support. 

That's why the two Lake Shore Middle School students decided to organize a three-on-three basketball tournament this weekend called Buckets for Bob. Through sponsorships and registration fees, the boys are hoping to raise money for Aker's family and the ALS Association of Wisconsin.

"When I was younger, Bob would always help me with swimming. He would always push me to try my hardest," Adam said. "Because he helped me when I was younger, I thought I should help him now that he needs help."

Aker has been a youth swim and basketball coach at the JCC for 17 years. Due to ALS, he can no longer play these sports and now walks with a cane. 

"Growing up, we went to multiple sports and football camps, and Bob was always motivating us to mature our skills in multiple sports,” Josh said. “When we found out he was ill, it was very saddening for us. We knew we had to do something for him.”

The tournament is Sunday at the JCC. Open to the public, this tournament is for ages 11 and up with adult, high school, and middle school divisions.  Registration fees are $18 per student and $36 per adult. Sponsorships are available for $100. 

Working on the fundraiser for their Bar Mitzvah project, the boys have spent many hours organizing the tournament, registering teams, talking to sponsors and updating the Buckets for Bob Facebook page.

So far, the two boys have registered 49 three-person teams, thanks to an outpouring of support from all age groups across several Milwaukee-area communities.

“I don’t think we meant for it to be his big,” Josh said. “It’s been beyond our wildest dreams.”

If you'd like to help out, donations can be made to Friends of Bob Aker and mailed to Adam Sadoff’s home at 10815 N. Ravine Ct., Mequon, WI  53092. The tournament fee is $36 per adult, and $18 per student.