Andy24 was established to honor the memory of Andrew J. Starinchak, a fellow ultimate frisbee player, and J. Michael Dunn, a champion of Columbus disc golf. The event is attended by hundreds of men and women each year to participate in the sporting events and to raise money for local charities in memory of these two great men. All proceeds from this event benefit local charities including Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus and the Compassionate Friends Organization.
Why Should I Play?
Why should you play the Andy 24? If you knew him, play to remember Andy. If you didn’t, play to honor a guy who was one of the best, and to connect and reconnect with the ultimate community.
Our intention is threefold:
- Have fun playing the games we love,
- Honor Andy’s and Michael’s memories by playing the game of Ultimate Frisbee and Disc Golf continuously for 24 hours, and
- To contribute mightily to local charities including the Columbus Boys and Girls Clubs and the Compassionate Friends organization.
Andy24 is a unique experience, with bi-hourly raffle prizes, oodles of great food, a sweet shirt included in your entry fee, and a great community of athletes, the real question is why wouldn’t you play?
Who’s Andy?
Andy was an outstanding individual and Ultimate player from the Columbus area. He was always interested in bettering himself and those he loved through athletics and fitness. On August 1, 1998 while bicycling in Westerville, he was struck and killed by a hit and run driver. To this day, the driver of the vehicle is still at large.
In keeping with his philosophies, his mother and father along with the ultimate community have made donations in Andy’s name at Boys & Girls Club of Columbus. This organization, among its many missions, encourages youth participation in sports. We hope to honor Andy’s memory by helping to make sports participation available to kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
All proceeds from the event benefit local charities including Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus and The Compassionate Friends organization which was instrumental in helping Andy’s family after their loss.
We know that many of you did not know Andy, but have had a loss of your own. If you have a loved one that you would like to dedicate those 24 hours of your life to, there will be an opportunity to publicly or privately do so. Feel free to bring thoughts, pictures, etc. to place in the memory box or memorial board. This is an event of mourning, supporting, and celebrating.