Website started for UNCW track, $115K raised so far to save program

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A website has been started to save the UNCW track program. Even with more than $115,000 already raised on the site, university officials say it will not change the future of the cut program.

An online campaign started this week to try to save the UNCW Track and Field program. The site, www.saveUNCWtrack.com has already raised more than $115,000. Dr. Rick Love, one of the campaign coordinators, has a daughter on the team.

“If they would have given any intonation that track was going to go away, they would have gotten this same response in March and they wouldn’t be where they are now,” Love said. “No one ever asked us or heard anyone think out loud about what the plan would be to do this $600,000 to $1 million campaign to stabilize.”

The UNCW athletics department says no matter how much money is raised during this effort, there will be no change in the status of the teams.

Even with that information, that’s not stopping people from continuing to raise money.

“It’s about doing what you love, and then you entrusted this school to provide that to you for four years,” Love said.

Love says they plan to hold a meeting with the UNCW Board of Trustees in hopes of getting the decision to eliminate the teams reversed.