After her coaches tried and failed to find a solution, her friends stepped in to launch the GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $5,000. Scheck, who works several jobs, was on a partial athletic scholarship, but with bills mounting, she realized she needed help. 'I was lucky to be in preseason the first couple of weeks because coach could get us meals in the dining hall.'Īs Scheck explained, she has often had to rely on her girlfriend for food: 'We've had a lot of meals together.' 'At the start it was definitely tough,' Scheck told OutSports about moving on without her family's financial assistance. Scheck could still return to the Canisius Cross-Country team if the NCAA can figure out a compromise on the eligibility issue
Scheck was left with a choice between leaving school and entering sexual-conversion therapy or being disowned. Because the NCAA forbids its student athletes and their families from receiving goods or services based on the status of the athlete, crowdfunding sites often represent a potential violation.Īs Scheck told, she was disowned by her family after her mother discovered a picture of her with a woman she was dating on social media. The problem centers around the NCAA's eligibility requirements, and the fact that Scheck received donations from a GoFundMe page that was launched by her friends to help her pay her remaining tuition and other expenses. The NCAA is effectively forcing Canisius College cross-country runner Emily Scheck to choose between the sport she loves and the tuition money and other funding she needs to continue pursuing her degree after she was disowned by her family for being gay. Published: 21:17 BST, 16 November 2018 | Updated: 21:38 BST, 16 November 2018Īccording to Scheck, the school offered to work with the NCAA to find a way to raise the money that would not put her eligibility in jeopardy, and an NCAA spokesperson told OutSports that all parties are 'currently reviewing all options for the student-athlete' Currently the NCAA and the school are looking for a solution to the problemīy Alex Raskin Sports News Editor For.She could either return every penny or leave the cross-country team.To help her, her friends launched a GoFundMe page that caught the eye of Canisius College's NCAA compliance office, which left Sheck with a choice.Although she was on a partial athletic scholarship, Schech, who works multiple, jobs, was left without tuition, money for books, and car insurance payments.Scheck, a sophomore, claims she was left with a choice between leaving school and entering sexual-conversion therapy or being disowned.As Scheck told, she was disowned by her family after her mother discovered a picture of her with a woman she was dating on social media.The problem centers around the NCAA's eligibility requirements, and the fact that Scheck received crowdfunding donations from a site her friends launched.Canisius College cross-country runner Emily Scheck is being forced to choose between the sport and the tuition money she needs to pursue her degree.Collegiate cross-country runner 'disowned by her family for being gay' could be declared ineligible for violating NCAA rules after accepting crowdfunding donations to pay for tuition, car insurance, and food