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Tucson- The Arizona and Notre Dame Rugby teams joined forces this weekend to raise money and awareness about a deadly children's disease.

The inaugural Ara Parseghian Rugby Cup Match took place at Murphey Stadium. The proceeds of the event benefit the Ara Parseghian Research Foundation, named after the legendary football coach who lost 3 of his grandchildren to Niemann Pick Type C disease.

The children's parents, Mike and Cindy Parseghian, say the match was only part of players motivation. "They are doing this because they want to help and if they happen to have a good time on rugby field than that's a little bit extra benefit, said Cindy Parseghian, "but they want to make a difference in this world and I think they are using rugby as a vehicle to do that."

Arizona won the match 17-5.

The Ara Parseghian Rugby Cup Match is scheduled to be an annual event with Notre Dame. Next year the Wildcats will travel to South Bend, Indiana for the event and match.

For more information on how you can contribute to the Ara Parseghian research foundation go to the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation website.