Joe LaBelle, a dishwasher at Ashland Health Center in Ashland, Kansas recently lost his grandmother to cancer. He wanted to do something to give women in the area access to cancer-screening services since the closest digital mammogram machine is 2½ hours away. Ashland, Kansas is a small town of 800 people.
Joe came up with the idea to raise money by staging a girls’ high school basketball game. He soon realized that the Kansas High School Association’s rules would make such an event next to impossible.
Ashland Health Center CEO Benjamin Anderson loved the idea and decided to help Joe. He contacted the father of Jackie Stiles, the NCAA’s alltime leading scorer who is from the small Kansas town of Claflin. Jackie agreed to play and as word spread, others came on board. Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper offered to coach a team. Ruth Riley of the San Antonio Silver Stars and Shalee Lehning of the Atlanta Dream showed up and they both coached a team.
From there, the event soared and more people volunteered to help. Cheerleaders from Kansas made the six-hour drive and the Kansas State Cheerleaders and Pep Band came. Former players at both the high school and college level volunteered to play. God Bless America was performed by members of Sing for Hope. The game was even broadcast by Fox Sports Net Midwest.
The game was played before a sellout crowd of 1,000 at the Ashland High gym. An overflow crowd watched on a big screen at the high school stadium. Anderson was motivated by this event and wants to continue to raise money for health care in small towns all over the country. If you would like to donate you may do so at the WEPAC Alliance website.
Loading ...
Comments
4 Responses to Women’s Basketball Helps Small Town
That’s amazing- it just shows that amazing change can start with one person!
We can do many things by ourselves if we only try. Great story!!
I agree with the previous comments. I loved this story when I first read it. Their goal was to raise $100,000 at this event. I wasn’t able to find out if they reached that but I am sure if they did not they will soon. The sporting world has a really great way of bringing people together.
I am really inspired by Joe. I love the idea that he didn’t just sit back and grieve, but instead took action. And he brought together a diverse group to help women in his community. I can’t imagine making a 5 hour round trip for a mammogram. It is a good reminder that not everyone in this country has easy access to the best of preventative health care.
Thanks for the uplifting story.