Box Score HENDERSON, Tenn. - While many volleyball programs around the nation are "Digging Pink," the Freed-Hardeman University volleyball team went a slightly different route with its benefit fundraiser this fall.
FHU teamed up with Chester County High School, also located in Henderson, to raise money for Mallerie Graves, a senior at the high school. The two teams hosted a dual match in the Sports Center on Oct. 1 with all proceeds from the gate and concessions going to the Graves family.
Mallerie, a 17-year-old senior at Chester County High School in Henderson, started having some health problems during the fall of her junior year. She first had a bout with hepatitis, but was eventually able to come back to school. Unfortunately, Mallerie got sick again and was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia As a result, her doctors sent her to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 28, 2008.
Aplastic Anemia is a condition where the bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells. They tried different medicines to help her and then decided she needed a bone marrow transplant. Her family members were all tested, but no one was a match. Fortunately, they were able to find a donor in the bone marrow registry and she had a transplant earlier this year. Mallerie remains at St. Jude with her mother while her father and brother are in Henderson. Her brother is a freshman at CCHS.
The event was titled "Serve it Up For Mallerie" and was led off by a match between CCHS and Liberty High School at 4:30 and followed by a match between FHU and Mid-Continent. The ribbon colors for Apalastic Anemia are red and white and the ribbon color for bone marrow transplant is green. The Eaglettes wore red warm up shirts and green ribbons and the Lady Lions wore red and white jerseys in honor of Mallerie.
"I have a very compassionate group of girls who were very excited about playing this match, especially for their friend," said CCHS head coach Susan Humphry.
Thanks to the efforts of these two programs, over $2000 was raised from admissions, concessions, and donations for the Graves family. "Serve it Up For Mallerie" turned out to be a great success and both coaches were very pleased at the turnout and the results. Both teams won their matches, 3-0, on this special night but more importantly both teams also realized the main purpose of the night - to help others.
"This was a great event for our young ladies to reach out to a local family and help raise both money and awareness for the Graves family," said Freed-Hardeman coach Todd Humphry. "I am very proud of our girls, university and community on how we came together to help one of our own."