For Neary and so many others, volleyball is netting big gains
For girls like Kim Neary, volleyball is queen at St. Francis. This fall is no different.
But it means even more this month. Volleyball is more than bump, set, spike, score.
St. Francis is one of several schools around DuPage County and Illinois hosting "Volley for the Cure" nights as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. All proceeds go toward breast cancer research.
"I think this can make a huge difference," said Neary, a senior at St. Francis. "I am proud of people coming together like this."
She isn't just saying that as a teenage girl excited to give back. Breast cancer has taken from Kim.
She lost her mom Diane Neary to breast cancer on Feb. 10, 2005. Kim was in the eighth grade.
Shortly after, Kim took part in the Relay for Life at Glenbard North. Captain of her team, the event raised more than $1,000. She hasn't missed it since.
"That was an emotional night," she said.
Kim's dad will be one of the breast cancer "survivors" speaking at St. Francis' Volley for the Cure night Oct. 20. Invitations have been sent out to survivor groups at Central DuPage Hospital, Delnor-Community Hospital and Edward Hospital.
The program has sold over 1,000 pink breast cancer awareness T-shirts. Raffles for two mamograms will be held, among the many activities.
"It will be one of the largest nights of volleyball in St. Francis history," long-time coach Peg Kopec said. "It is so rewarding to see so many athletes and students come together to work diligently for such a great cause."
Volley for the Cure started in Ohio. A former Ohio high school volleyball player and her mom asked if they could use a high school match as an awareness event to honor two friends suffering from breast cancer. Nearly 15,000 Ohio volleyball players ending up donning pink jerseys at different matches.
Former IHSA Executive Director Ola Bundy, who was in charge of volleyball, was an advocate for breast cancer awareness before succumbing to the disease in 2006.
This year for the first time schools around Illinois have taken up the cause, including St. Francis, Driscoll (Oct. 9), Glenbard West (Sept. 29), Glenbard South (Oct. 16), Hinsdale South (Oct. 23), Naperville Central (Oct. 16), Lisle (Oct. 14), Immaculate Conception (Oct. 15), West Chicago (Oct. 2) and York (Oct. 7).
Hinsdale South will host rival Hinsdale Central at its event. It is especially meaningful to Hinsdale South coach Lisa Jablonski; her club coach from her high school days, Sue Kack, was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago.
"She's a woman that mentored me. To see people like that with the disease, it impacts you," Jablonski said. "We wanted to make it a big deal.
"Volleyball is a small community," she added, "so to see somebody in its community (with breast cancer) is alarming. But to see her still involved in the sport is admirable."
It has struck a chord at Glenbard South, where the school has just about sold out its pink T-shirts.
"Right there, $1,000. That's great," Raiders coach Sherry Hudson said, lauding the response of faculty, students and parents.
Funds from Glenbard South's event will go toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Most schools' money is going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, where all IHSA schools will send funds to next year.
Hudson lost a colleague in the special education department to breast cancer a few years ago. Glenbard South will honor the grandmother of senior Kim Schwerdtmann, a survivor, at next week's event.
"I just like that our sport can come together for a common cause," Hudson said.
Kim Neary is struck by just how many are touched by the disease. A friend who lost her aunt. Same with a mom of a girl in the Driscoll program.
"I know I'm not alone at all. There are a lot of people in my shoes," she said. "It's all the more reason to expand this as much as they are."
jwelge@dailyherald.com