Community sets up GoFundMe for Lakewood Ranch High football coach battling COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic has uprooted so many lives throughout the world.
It’s also caused a financial burden for those needing care over an extended period of time.
Locally, Lakewood Ranch High assistant football coach Roosevelt Atkins has battled COVID-19 over the past month at an area hospital and a GoFundMe fundraiser was started Wednesday night to help Atkins and his family.
“As you may know, our very own Coach Atkins has been in the hospital bravely fighting COVID 19 for the last month,” the GoFundMe reads. “We are happy to say that his determination and our prayers have paid off and he is making progress but he still remains in the hospital’s care. However, his hospital stay has been financially devastating to his family. We are reaching out to our football family (and beyond) to come together and help the Atkins family if you can. Any amount is helpful and greatly appreciated. Thank you and please keep Coach Atkins in your prayers. Much love to you all.”
Lakewood Ranch booster club president Paula Patten started the GoFundMe. As of Thursday morning — roughly 14 hours from when it was posted — the account raised $4,870 from 91 donations.
The account’s goal is $5,000. Click here to contribute.
Atkins played football at Palmetto High before playing college ball at Bethune-Cookman. Former Lakewood Ranch High head coach Mick Koczersut, who was an assistant at Palmetto when Atkins played there, hired Atkins on his Mustangs staff.
Atkins stayed on the staffs of Christopher Culton and current Lakewood Ranch head coach Rashad West as the team’s defensive line coach.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 11:26 AM.
