Harbaughs celebrate Mock Rock’s work at fundraiser

Ann Arbor — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh did some version of dancing to One Direction at the urging of the women’s rowing team Tuesday night during Mock Rock.

It was that kind of night as Harbaugh and wife, Sarah, were judges for the athletics variety show that was created in 1999 as a tribute to Michigan wrestler Jeff Reese, who died while training for a meet.

Originally, proceeds from the event went to the Jeff Reese endowed scholarship but it has since become a fundraiser for the community. All money raised at the event held at the Power Center will be donated to Fresh Start Clubhouse, an organization for adults with mental illness. The purpose of Fresh Start is to help the individuals find a place of acceptance and where they learn skills to succeed.

Mock Rock organizers did not have the figure for the amount raised because of donations still coming in late Tuesday, but Harbaugh and his wife announced during the show that they will match whatever amount was raised.

Fresh Start’s program also featured a speaker, “Adam,” who shared that he could not go through with a suicide attempt — his third — because he wanted to find a way to keep going.

“It really resonated with me,” Harbaugh said. “Being on a team is where I’ve always gotten support. From my family team or the team team or some team in some form or fashion. That’s what resonated for me.

“Adam was brilliant. Just powerful and true. Everybody has been there in a way, to a degree where Adam was. Adam sharing that was the powerful thing of the night for me. And also the way they presented, it kept your attention the whole time. It brought home the team element that we’re all a team in the sense of we’re all children of God, we’re all part of the mankind team.”

angelique.chengelis@detroitnews.com

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