Murray State University Athletics
Racers Swinging To Help National Brain Tumor Society
10/14/2008 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
This
November the Racers will start Swinging
to Eliminate Cancer to help raise funds for the National Brain Tumor
Society. Kendra Schwepker, the wife of
head volleyball coach David Schwepker, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in
2004. The Schwepker's received great
support from the local community to help them with medical bills and with
everyday chores while Kendra was first getting treatment and now they want to
help others going through the same thing.
“I am
excited and appreciate that my team is concerned not only for my family, but
for other families affected by this disease,” said head volleyball coach David Schwepker.
The
National Brain Tumor Society funds brain tumor research and provides support
services for patients and their families. The NBTS helps fund research grants
that it feels will benefit the greatest number of patients. The society also hosts an 800 help line with
a Medical Information Specialist to answer questions, provides information and
materials free of charge to local cancer centers across the nation, and helps
provide local caregiver training.
“The
funds these athletes raise will have a real impact on the lives of patients.
Whether it is through our patient help line, our financial assistance program
or through our research funding, these students are changing lives,” said Mike
Logsdon of the National Brain Tumor Society.
“We cannot thank these players enough for supporting the National Brain
Tumor Society (NBTS).”
All members
of the 2008 volleyball team and staff are currently seeking donations for the
event that will take place Nov. 14-15 at the final two home matches of the 2008
campaign. Those wishing to make
donations can make a flat donation or can chose to make a donation per attack
attempt recorded by both teams in both matches over the weekend. A typical match this season has resulted in
around 600 attack attempts, so if a person decided to donate a penny per
attempt the donation would come to $6.
Donations
can also be made on-line at www.firstgiving.com/MSUVolleyball. All donations will be given to the National
Brain Tumor Society on behalf of the
“I think an
event like this is important because not only does it bring us together as a
team, but it also helps us to reach out to the community,” said senior Heather
Norris. “We can show the community that
we are not just a volleyball team, but solid citizens as well.”
Community
service projects, like Swinging to
Eliminate Cancer, are important to the Murray State Athletic Department. The mission of the department is to help
create student-athletes that learn not only leadership and knowledge in their
fields, but also an awareness of the world around them.
“Community
service projects like the one volleyball has started this year are important to
the Murray State Athletic Department,” said Director of Athletics Allen Ward. “These projects help our
student-athletes learn a sense of community responsibility that will be
important to them in their future endeavors.”
