From Left Field

Think pink at Friday night hoops games

It’s inspiring how something as little as wearing a pink shirt or ribbon can lift spirits and show the world that you intend to make a difference in somebody’s life. But that’s exactly what you can do this Friday night at the Commander and Commanderette basketball games against Marion County.

The Washington County Relay for Life will be taking donations all evening as the Commanders and Commanderettes host Coaches vs. Cancer at WCHS. All money raised will go toward fighting and finding a cure for cancer.

As a new member of the Relay committee, this event is near and dear to my heart. I lost my mother to breast cancer this past October, plus I have had several family members and friends die from the disease, so I know firsthand the devastation and suffering that cancer can cause.

It’s funny how things can get placed on the back burner for a while until something hits home and brings it all to the forefront again. That’s the way it was when my mom died four months ago. Although I experienced losing a loved one to cancer before, I got complacent, thinking the worst was over. Then in September of last year, my mom broke her knee and went for some X-rays. That’s when they found the cancer. Less than two months later she was gone. You think you’re in the clear; that it will never happen to you or anyone you know. I’ve been there myself.

Friday, the coaches for both Washington and Marion counties will be wearing pink polo shirts and the players from both teams will sport pink warm-up shirts provided by local sponsors.

I’d like to urge everyone to get regular screenings and take preventative steps to combat cancer in the early stages. Early detection is very important and can mean the difference between life and death.

Kudos to coaches Bernard Smalley and Paul Bodenhamer for taking the initiative to make this event happen, and to athletic director Glen Goatley and WCHS principal Leon Smith for giving it the OK.

I urge everyone in Washington County, Marion County and the surrounding area to come out dressed in pink and support a great cause.