By John Patten, Managing Editor
Sunnymead students highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month
It’s said it doesn’t always matter if you win or lose, but it does matter how you play the game — and for the members of the Hillsborough Jr. Raiders Division II team Nebraska Huskers, playing the game in memory of a beloved teacher matters most.
The team is sporting pink shoelaces in their shoes this month to highlight Breast Cancer awareness and the June death of Sunnymead School teacher Lisa Nawrotzki. Ms. Nawrotzki had initially been diagnosed with cancer in May 2008.
”If you ever had the pleasure to meet Lisa Nawrotzki you would know how wonderful she was from the moment you met her,” Sunnymead School parent Suzanne Kreiswirth said of her friend. “She has touched so many young lives … Although she has left a little of herself here with us in her three girls, Lilly, Lauren, and Logan, she is missed dearly by all who knew her.”
Including her former student Collin Purdy, a member of the Huskers team, who initiated the plan to switch laces this month. With the approval of the coaches, the team took to the field on Oct. 9 with the brightly colored laces to make their point.
”More than half of this Nebraska team are alumni of Sunnymead Elementary School,” Ms. Kreiswirth said. “They all remember her fondly and remember the hopes they had that when they went to fourth-grade they would be lucky enough to get her as their fourth-grade teacher.”
The Huskers’ head coach, Todd Albin, noted the gridders have taken their project a step further, with some of the boys adding pink laces to their school shoes to “step up their effort.”
”It’s really been impressive,” he said.
Rallying support for breast cancer awareness wasn’t limited to Sunnymead’s boys, however. A group of girls, including Ms. Kreiswirth’s daughters, Emily and Sarah, and Erin Buckman, Gina Clemente, Olivia Marnell, Erin Rudd, Grace Marnell, Olivia Buckman, Kaitlin Hands and Kristen Sarik, had strands of pink placed in their hair at the Hair Plus Day Spa Salon in Hillsborough, Oct. 9. Emily, Sarah and Kristen had gone with Ms. Nawrotzki and her daughters to get similar hair extensions last year, the proceeds from which the salon donates to the Breast Cancer Foundation/Ribbons of Hope, and this year they encouraged others to join in.
”I am sure the bonding of these special girls will live on and change as they get older and they will do walks and other events to raise funds and awareness in memory of Mrs. Nawrotzki,” Mr. Kreiswirth said. “She will forever live in these wonderful kids hearts and never be forgotten.”
Ms. Kreiswirth said the message is clear: Get checked every six months to a year, because early detection is the best way to detect breast cancer, and start early treatment.
”Even if it doesn’t run in your family, that doesn’t matter, you must get checked,” she said. “Do it for your children, husbands, family, better yet do it for yourself. Because you are worth it.”
Ms. Kreiswirth added a special local nonprofit organization helps in the battle against breast cancer called Chain of Hope. Chain of Hope was created by childhood friends and family members of Mrs. Nawrotzki to help her and her family through fundraising and now carries on to assist others. Their hope is to help and provide peace of mind to local families during the challenges of helping a family member in treatment for cancer. Chain of Hope is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.
For more information, visit the website at www.chainhope.org, or send email to [email protected].
Meanwhile, Mr. Albin noted the Jr. Raiders are working hard, getting ready for the run for the playoffs, with a game this weekend.
