Photo Provided Bob Holmes, a one-man volleyball team, is coming to the Ohio Valley to deliver his message on issues teenagers are dealing with in today’s society. He will play volleyball against members of the Wheeling Fire and Police departments at the ‘Palace on the Hill’ inside Wheeling Park High School on Thursday night. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the event starting at 7 p.m.

WHEELING — Bob Holmes has played more than 20,000 games of one-man volleyball against professional athletes and assemblies of local high school faculty and students.

His current record is 20,016 wins against 470 losses. He has played against and beaten professional athletes such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Orioles.

Holmes has been recognized by “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” for playing more games than any athlete in history and has been featured on ABC, CBS, CNN and in The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

He has played in more than 6,000 gymnasiums in front of 6 million people, with a tangible positive impact on more than 100,000 lives.

Holmes is scheduled to be in several Ohio Valley schools, including Bridgeport and Martins Ferry, for student assemblies where he will deliver a message to address key issues that teenage students are dealing with in our present society: depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, bullying, cyber-safety/cyber-bullying, human trafficking issues, and making positive life choices against the dangers of vaping, drugs and alcohol.

The highlight of the week will be a community event at Wheeling Park High School on Thursday, where the community will honor its first responders and Holmes will play against members of the Wheeling police and fire departments.

Donations will be taken at the door, and all proceeds will be shared between the departments. After the games, Holmes will deliver a message of encouragement and hope to the community.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with free food and an opportunity to meet a few of the Wheeling Nailers for autographs and pictures. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. with Wheeling Nailers Public Address announcer Chris Thoburn as the emcee for the evening.