WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Dozens gather to remember PRP player on his 16th birthday

Dozens gather to remember PRP player on his 16th birthday

Posted By Rachel Collier

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - It's been almost a year since former PRP football player Max Gilpin died three days after he collapsed at football practice in August of 2008. On Sunday more than 100 family members and friends gathered at Sun Valley Park to celebrate what would have been Max's 16th birthday.

It was a 'Live Life to the Max!' party with an important message.

Max's mother, Michelle Crockett, says his death stunned the community and brought national attention to the dangers heat can pose to high school athletes. "After Max died, we said, 'something good has to come out of this.' We didn't want his death to be in vain. Heat stroke is 100 percent preventable and we've got to get the word out."

Both of Max's parents applaud the Kentucky High School Athletic Association for getting on the ball with recent training programs for coaches.

Now Max's mom is heading up the Max Gilpin 'Beat the Heat' Foundation. Its goal is to raise money to increase awareness and training for heat-related emergencies.

"All it is is education," said Max's dad, Jeff Gilpin. "All you've got to is be aware of what's going on and this doesn't have to happen."

Max's younger sister, Ana, agrees. "People should know that they need to be cautious. Because we don't want this to happen to another player or anybody.

Max's 8-year-old brother, Zachary, says he knows his brother would have been happy to see all the people celebrating his birthday. "We're supporting him, and he would have loved it."

More fundraisers will be held soon as the foundation begins its work. Michelle and Jeff say they also hope the awareness it creates will eventually help encourage the placement of team trainers at every school.