the-powell-family.jpg

The Powell family, Alex (left), Juliana, Steve and Adrienne, pose for a photo before Alex was diagnosed with cancer in 2010.

(Courtesy photo)

Alex Powell loved Michigan State University. And, he hated — hated — the University of Michigan.

Even when he was getting treatment at University of Michigan Hospital for the cancer that eventually took his life in May 2011, Alex wasn't going to shy away from his loyalties, said Juliana Powell, his mother.

“We would head down there and he would wear full Michigan State gear,” she said, adding, “including the blanket he kept on his bed.”

On Friday, despite her late son’s feelings toward the maize and blue, Juliana will watch with pride as ROTC members from MSU and U-M to run the 64 miles between Michigan Stadium and Demonstration Hall with the game balls that will be used in Saturday’s contest at Spartan Stadium.

It’s a show of unity in a rivalry that stirs the deepest emotions in Spartans and Wolverines, culminating in an annual clash that leaves fans screaming in the stands and players pounding each other on the field. Even though her son bled green and white, Juliana Powell said she wanted to give back to a school that helped her family.

Alex's Great State Race is a competition between fans of MSU and U-M to see who can raise the most money for an on-campus organization at their chosen school.

At MSU, that organization is MSU's Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, the group that helped realize Alex's dream of attending Michigan State. Juliana Powell said more than $13,000 has been raised for RCPD as of Thursday afternoon, far surpassing the $10,00 goal.

Michigan fans can donate to U-M's Services for Students with Disabilities in Alex's memory.

According to a MSU statement, 1,532 students with permanent disabilities were helped by RCPD last year with 94 other students receiving help for temporary disabilities. Juliana Powell said the organization was instrumental in the last year of her son’s life.

Alex was diagnosed with cancer during his senior year at Lansing Catholic High School. He died before completing his freshman year.

After Alex died, Juliana Powell said she was talking with friends and family wondering how she and her husband Steve could honor Alex’s memory. Someone jokingly tossed out the idea of a race between MSU and U-M’s football stadiums, and the idea went from there.

“I wanted to give back to the two places that really helped us,” she said.

At 6:30 a.m. Friday, members of the Spartan Battalion and the Wolverine Battalion will begin running from the south entrance of Michigan Stadium toward East Lansing. Ultra marathon runner Michael Richmond will leave the same area at 4:30 a.m. and meet back up with the ROTC teams in East Lansing.

Juliana Powell said the plan is for one member of each ROTC to be running at each time — the cadet from MSU will carry the Spartans’ game ball and the cadet from U-M will carry the Wolverines’ game ball. A third cadet will be running with the American flag at the same time.

Twenty two runners from each school will participate in the run and will run between seven and 10 miles each. When the game balls make it to MSU’s campus, all 44 people involved in the relay will come together and get to the finish line at Demonstration Hall field about 3:30 p.m. Friday.

“They’re running it together, they’re coming together to show a united front,” Juliana Powell said.

Anyone interested in donating can visit the website for Alex's Great State Race at alex.rcpd.msu.edu. The funds will go to the school chosen by the donator.

Kyle Feldscher is the Capitol education and MSU reporter for MLive Media Group. Reach him via email at kylefeldscher@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter at @Kyle_Feldscher. Read more stories here.