NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- While the summer heat continues to bear down on the Hampton Roads area, a pair of Christopher Newport University Athletics staffers found a way to stay cool this week. Director of Athletics Todd Brooks and assistant field hockey coach Jessica Weiss happily accepted the #Chillin4Charity Cold Water Challenge as they participated in the nationwide fundraiser on the University's Great Lawn. 

The #Chillin4Charity Challenge was started by Arizona women's basketball coach Niya Butts as a fundraiser for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and has taken off in popularity with athletic departments around the nation. Weiss was "called out" by Kathy Kroupa, Senior Woman Administrator and head softball coach at her alma mater, Susquehanna University, while Brooks eagerly accepted the challenge placed on him by the Director of Athletics at fellow Capital Athletic Conference rival University of Mary Washington.

"We are very happy to take part in this excellent cause," Brooks said. "There is much work to be done and the efforts of all who take part in this will go a long way in the fight against cancer."

A donation will be made on behalf of Christopher Newport Athletics to both the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, as well as The V Foundation for Cancer Research. 

Moments before the Captains suffered their chilly fates, however, they had the opportunity to pass along the challenge. Brooks first looked to Salisbury University, and challenged AD Mike Vienna, before also tipping his hat to long-time CNU administrator and now the Director of Athletics at Lynchburg College, Jon Waters. Weiss would also challenge Natalie Barrett, the assistant field hockey coach at Old Dominion University, and Breanne Lowe, the assistant coach at Rhodes College. 

The video is included as part of this story on CNUsports.com, but can also be found on CNU Athletics Social Media. Use the hashtag #Chillin4Charity to follow the challenge on Twitter. For more information about the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, click here, and for more information on The V Foundation for Cancer Research, click here.