Story and photos by Monty Siekerman
Ada’s little darling—Amelia—cheered on the Ada Schools volleyball teams Thursday at the school gym during a Volley for the Cure fundraiser.
Next month, six-year-old Amelia Griffin will have been in remission for two years after having been diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer. For the past several years, the community has come together to give her and her family love, encouragement, and financial resources. Benefits have been held by Ada School and ONU groups, sports teams, businesses, nonprofits, civic organizations, and many individuals. They call themselves Team Amelia.
At Thursday’s junior varsity and varsity matches, Amelia sat on the bench with the coaches and players of the Ada teams. Across the way, her mom and dad and brothers Jude and Willie watched the competition. Mom Christina said, “Ada is a beautiful community.” Dad Beau said, “The support restores your faith in humanity.”
In addition to admission charged for the volleyball matches, money was raised Thursday by the sale of a huge assortment of goodies, concession stand sales, and a collection taken up through the crowd. Last year $1,500 was raised during Volley for the Cure. Funds go to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation in Columbus where Amelia has been treated. The Ada second grader is an ambassador for the foundation.
The visiting Lincolnview teams (Van Wert) brought a large bag of donations of stuffed animals and coloring books for other children and their families fighting the disease.
Both Ada and Lincolnview players wore pink, as did most everyone in the bleachers.
Who won the volleyball matches? Ada Icon readers will have to wait for Cort Reynolds’ report. But, we know cancer lost.
