Published: September 23, 2008 11:14 am      

Game for a cause, cure

Thursday’s match focuses on cancer, former players

MILES — Brenda McKone has touched many lives as volleyball coach at East Central High School. But she, too, has been affected by her players, and when you lose one, it’s tough to take.

She knows that all too well. Three former Raider volleyball players have died since 2001. Kara Luett, who played at East Central from 1992 to 1995, died of leukemia in 2001; Erin Ruchotzke (2000-03) died a year ago of complications of an asthma attack; and Jeni Johnson Miller (1998-2001) died in February of a melanoma. McKone wanted to do something to both remember them and serve a cause.

She and Preston coach Denise Larson agreed to do it Thursday night when their teams face off in a nonconference match at East Central. They’re calling it “Ace for the Cure.” Money raised at the event will be donated to a group in Dubuque called “Breast of Friends.”

“I thought it was a good group to send it to,” McKone said. “They are survivors, and it will help pay for mammograms, wigs and things like that.

None of the three players died from breast cancer, but McKone said that wasn’t important.

“The kids and I decided we wanted to do something in memory of them,” she said. “We know breast cancer touches everyone.”

The players will wear special pink shirts for the match, and there will be a raffle for the game ball, as well as several other money-raising promotions and contests.

“I think it should be a real good crowd,” McKone said of the game that follows a 6 p.m. freshman-sophomore match. “A lot of people will come to support the event.”

Tickets cost $5 for adults, $4 for students.

Picking the game was easy, too. McKone and Larson are friends, the teams are rivals and the towns of Preston and Miles are less than five miles apart.

“We knew they’d be glad to participate in something like that,” McKone said. “The Preston kids were on board right away. Preston will donate the game ball to be raffled.

“Having a nonconference game was important because it’s going to be a little distracting.”

When the distractions are for a good cause, though, they are much easier to deal with.