Aggie organizes 24-hour football game

College students might feel like they are putting in a 100-hour workweek and still feel like they don't have any money. There are more than 7,000 children in Ghana and western Africa who go through this every day.

The plight of these children inspired Chris Fields, class of 2005, to do something to help. When he returned from a mission trip in 2009, he set out to raise money to aid these child slaves. The non-profit Mercy Project was founded to help in the economic development of western Africa to ease the reliance on slave labor. Since its incorporation 18 months ago they have been active in our community having events, raising money and setting Guinness world records.

"Last year we set a Guinness world record with a 50-hour kickball game," Field said. "This year our big event is our 24-hour game of flag football. This is the event people come out to see and get excited about."

 At 7 p.m. today, 32 participants will meet at veteran's park to play the longest game of flag football in the history of mankind. The marathon of a game is planned on beginning with Texas A&M football players acting as guest coaches and calling plays on offense and defense and ending with a giant clock counting down signifying that a full day of football has been played.

"We contacted the people at Guinness and they told us no one has even attempted this record before," Field said. " They said we had to do 24 hours to set the record."

Of the 32 players participating, 14 of which are Aggies, each participant has been encouraged to collect donations for the cause from friends and family. This money along with donations from various people and businesses totaled to more than $16,000 for the Mercy Project. The event is expected to bring in several hundred people coming and going throughout the day along with donations that will bring the total closer to the goal of $20,000.

"The money is being spent on economic development in western Africa to create industry and businesses where slave labor isn't the only economically viable option," Field said. "We also use it to help rescue the children there and educate them to become the next generation of leaders in Ghana."

Spectators are encouraged to attend and watch the game at Veteran's Park in Bryan today and tomorrow to support the players and the continuing work of the Mercy Project. The Mercy project has several events throughout the year as well and continuing support in the Bryan-College Station area makes this possible.