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Bird Island Community 'Jams The Gym' To Raise Money For Sick Children

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The community of Bird Island celebrated a teenager who was taken too soon Saturday night.

Tim Orth learned he had a brain tumor at age 16.

A little more than a year later, he died.

Since his death, 17 years ago, the Tim Orth Foundation has raised more than $2 million for other children with severe medical conditions.

Saturday's annual fundraiser in Bird Island brought together around 2,000 people.

They "jammed the gym" at BOLD School.

"We keep getting our past recipients coming back and they say…it's bigger than the money. We come back here every year to feel that gymnasium hug and to recharge us so we can go another year helping our child to get better," Val Serbus of the Tim Orth Foundation said.

To honor Orth's love of basketball, Saturday's event featured basketball games, a three-point contest and slam dunk showcase.

More than 20 people from the Bird Island community will be receiving help from the fundraiser.

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