The Harlem Wizards will be in Ironton next month for a fundraising game to support Bethany Bibb, an Ironton High School student who has cystic fibrosis and is in need of a double-lung transplant.

The high school’s Key Club is presenting the fundraiser. Club advisor Kimberly Kelly said the students came up with the idea to help Bethany and her family raise the $35,000 they need for the transplant.

“They just really felt like it would be a good way to help out because her family needs to raise so much money,” Kelly said.

The Wizards were in Ironton two years ago before the Gus Macker tournament, but this year’s show will not be the same.

“This is a whole different show,” said Lisa Rawson, a sales representative for the Wizards. “We actually have three teams and the team that’s coming is not the same team that was there two years ago.”

The Wizards will play Bethany’s Buddies, a team of teachers, students, administrators and community members.

The players will be: Dean Nance, Ironton superintendent; Joe Rowe, IHS principal; Jeff Hairston, assistant principal; Annette Scott, school nurse; Tomie Litner, a teacher; Dave Knapp, a substitute teacher; Bonnie Donahue, a school cook; Kurt Geveke, a teacher; Nancy Sutton, a teacher; Ginger Thomas, an aide; Jeff Murphy, a community member; Jim Mitchell, of Covenant Home Health Care; Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship; Ironton City Councilman Kevin Waldo; and students Kyle Holt, Malcolm Morton, Arden Sparks, Allison Freeman, Xiang Lin and Alexa Carter.

Students on the team were picked from a drawing.

The team’s coaches will be teachers Nichole Hicks and Tim Thomas. Referees will be teacher Gara Williams and Ironton School Board member Jay Zornes.

Though the team usually charges a percentage of ticket sales, the Wizards are charging a flat fee for this fundraiser. They also waived the cost of their travel.

“They really did a good deal for us,” Kelly said.

Kelly added that the students having been working hard at organizing the event.

“We couldn’t do this without the students,” she said. “They’re phenomenal workers. They’re going to be at the game but their not going to be able to watch it because they’ll be working.”

Besides the Key Club, several other school clubs have contributed to the event including the Spanish Club, Science Club, and Germany Club. There have been several community sponsors as well.

Besides the proceeds from the game and the concession stand, there will also be a various raffles during the game to help raise money. The school’s band boosters is raffling off three baskets — with themes of Ohio State, the Harlem Wizards and the Ironton Tigers — during the game. Donations are needed for the baskets.

“We have the potential to raise $5,000 or more,” Kelly said. “I really feel like we can. We have to sell the tickets.”

The game will be 7 p.m. Thursday April 7 at the Conley Center.

Tickets are on sale now for the game. Advance tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults. At the door, tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults. Tickets are available at Ironton Elementary School, Ironton Middle School, Ironton High School, St. Lawrence Elementary, St. Joseph High School, Bob Linn Sporting Goods and Covenant Home Health Care.