EVERETT — There is a bond with the members of the Everett volleyball team that extends much further than the court. It’s not the type of bond that 15- to 18-year-olds should have to endure, but nevertheless it has brought them closer as teammates and friends.
All 13 members of the Everett varsity team have been affected, in one way or another, by cancer, which is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, surpassed only by heart disease. Each member of the team has a story of how a family member or friend has either fought cancer, or in some cases, succumbed to the disease.
Collectively, the team decided it was time to do something to fight back. Teaming up with Glacier Peak, which was Everett’s opponent on Thursday, the Seagulls hosted a Dig for the Cure night to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
“I think this is all really close to their hearts,” Everett head coach Natalie Kaltbrunner said. “Since I’ve been coaching these girls — I’ve had a lot of them since they were freshmen — they’ve been wanting to do a Dig for the Cure night, not just to wear pink, but to raise money for cancer. I think for a lot of them it’s really close to their heart to want to raise money and donate for a cause that is so close and has affected all of them.”
When Glacier Peak head coach Chris Pratt approached Kaltbrunner earlier this year about doing a Dig for the Cure night, Kaltbrunner was finally able to fulfill the wish of her players. They immediately started brainstorming ways to raise money. A representative from the American Cancer Society was on hand on Thursday to collect donations during both the junior-varsity and varsity matches between the Seagulls and Grizzlies. Everett also hosted a bake sale, sold t-shirts and auctioned off two volleyballs signed by both teams with all proceeds going to the ACS.
“I think that, as teenagers, a lot of times it feels like there are such big problems that we can’t fix and that we can’t help. But this one in particular, we’ve all been impacted by it so heavily and we all have an opportunity to contribute to help find a cure for something that has affected us all so much,” Everett senior middle blocker Carmen Dittoe said. “I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s so special. We actually get to feel like we’re helping and see all of our hard work and proceeds go to something that really matters to all of us.”
When Dittoe was five, she lost a cousin to cancer.
It’s not just the players who have been impacted by cancer. Kaltbrunner’s aunt lost underwent a double mastectomy after a battle with breast cancer. Like her players, Kaltbrunner said she felt a sense of responsibility to help the cause.
“Raising money for a cure is a big deal because there is no cure for cancer,” she said. “Every penny that is donated is going towards finding a cure. That’s why it’s important to me.
“It’s close to my heart and I know it’s close to all these girls’ hearts. They’re the next generation. Hopefully we can find a cure by then.”
Breast cancer specifically has impacted several of the players, which has not only raised awareness for the group of young women, but watching their family members or friends fight that battle has helped them to understand what a life-altering illness it can be even if in survival.
“It’s just such a big part of being a woman,” Dittoe said. “If that’s taken away from you…It’s one of those things where you’re still alive and you’re in the world every day, but you’ve lost a part of you that is both physical and emotional. There’s no way around that.”
The Seagulls set a goal to raise $500 for the ACS and raised a total of $546.
The Grizzlies won Thursday’s match 3-0 with set scores of 25-13, 25-16 and 25-10. Lauren Sanders led Glacier Peak with 14 kills and seven blocks and Mikala Pratt added 26 assists.
At Everett H.S.
G. Peak 25 25 25 — 3
Everett 13 16 10 — 0
Highlights—Glacier Peak: Lauren Sanders 14 kills, 7 blocks; Mikala Pratt 26 assists; Natalie AhYat 4 aces. Everett: Taylor Wold 4 kills. Records—Glacier Peak 6-3 league, 8-3 overall. Everett 3-5, 4-7.
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
