Michael Bennett, Seahawks raise $35K to fight obesity

Michael Bennett is known for his outstanding play on the field, but over the weekend, he and a few other Seahawks put on an incredible display of charity, raising more than $35,000 at a meet-and-greet event.

The event was called “Champs & Cocktails for a Cause” and was hosted at the Columbia Center in Seattle on Saturday.

Bennett teamed up with Percy Harvin, Doug Baldwin, Russell Okung, Jordan Hill and others to raise money to benefit Bennett’s charity, OCEAN,  a program founded to fight childhood obesity.

A spokesperson at the event made this statement:

"“Bennett was the perfect host, mingling with everyone in the crowd, and of course helping out with some of the service by pouring wine for donors — and even taking over the DJ booth at one point!”"

The OCEAN program is led by Hawaii Optimum Performance and St. Louis School aims to “fight obesity through community, education, activity and nutrition.”

The players in attendance signed autographs, took pictures with fans and ate dinner with members of the VIP club.

Last season was Bennett’s first in Seattle. In 16 games, he recorded 8.5 sacks, just 0.5 shy of a career-high.

In March, he re-signed with the Seahawks signing a four-year, $28.5 million deal. He is expected to be on of Seattle’s starting defensive ends when the season starts.

Entering his sixth season in the NFL, Bennett has recorded 23.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in 66 games.