Tri-City Night proceeds to aid SCE coach
By Steve Nemeth
Historically, soccer’s roots are planted deeply in the communities of St. Charles, Batavia and Geneva, and that means passion is fierce on the field and in the stands when it comes to the four schools and their annual Tri-City Night matches.
But the faithful from Batavia’s Bulldogs, Geneva’s Vikings, and either St. Charles’ Saints from East and North Stars from North, have made it a tradition to show their compassion for a neighbor needing assistance.
As a cheerleading coach at St. Charles East, Tawny Powers has relished her team's turns in the spotlight with seven-straight teams that have qualified for the state finals. However, being in the spotlight herself is something Powers doesn’t relish any more than the stuggle of her continuing battle with breast cancer.
Just a week shy of an eighth surgery due to the disease, Powers will be the recipient of the fundraising efforts from the 2018 girls soccer edition of the Tri-City Night. In the four programs' quest to help others, this time it is one of their own.
“Originally I was impressed and pleased to be a part of when the boys soccer season in the fall and the girls in the spring showed their heart and generosity helping to raise money for a local family with an event billed as the ‘Pride of the Fox.’ But I never imagined how it would hit home,” Powers said. “Now all I can say is how blessed I feel to have the prayers and support, either personal or financial, from the communities.”
In February, 2016, Powers discovered a lump. A mammogram and ultrasound brought an initial decision that a six-month follow-up was warranted. At that time it was discovered that the lump had grown 23 percent. A lumpectomy discovered a cancer known as invasive mucinous carcinoma. The doctor’s diagnosis, that it was the best kind of breast cancer, seemed incomprehensible to Powers.
“All I heard was the word ‘cancer.’ My heart sank and my thoughts were spinning,” Powers recalled. “With two sons, I was hoping to be pregnant again and have a girl, but my life changed in ways I couldn’t imagine. Obviously I cried a lot.”
Kate McCullagh, a fellow physical education instructor who was home on maternity leave, heard the news and packed up her daughter and newborn son to find her close friend. She found Powers in a faculty room.
“Kate just held me; she was my saving grace. Having lost her father to cancer, she was the one that called my doctor back to understand the diagnosis and get an explanation on what was next,” Powers recalled. “She told me the tumor was mucous-filled, something only four percent encounter, and that it was a slow-growing cancer.”
The cancer proved difficult to eradicate. In September, 2016, the then 31-year-old had the first surgery. That’s when Powers found her own resolve.
“I told myself I can’t feel sorry, I must move forward, I must keep fighting, I must keep pushing back,” she remembered. “I decided the best thing I could do was surround myself with those I love, and those that love me. That Friday night I went to an East football game where my cheerleaders and friends rallied around me.”
In the weeks that followed there were injections plus hormone therapy for a March, 2017, surgery.
A subsequent surgery to correct a complication found another lump. It proved to be a return of the disease.
Powers doctors have been in awe of her perseverance. Radiation therapy created the need for more surgery. An eighth is planned for May 14 with another later this summer.
Needless to say, the medical bills have grown exponentially.
The Tri-City Night teams hope more local businesses will become involved with the event. A special “Tri-City Night” T-shirt is on sale for $10. Along with great soccer action, the evening will include food, fun and prizes.
“We’re hoping all players purchase the “Tri-City Night” shirt and wear them as a reminder that although we play against each other on the field, we are united together in a special cause that is bigger than the game of soccer,” St. Charles North coach Brian Harks said.
By Steve Nemeth
Historically, soccer’s roots are planted deeply in the communities of St. Charles, Batavia and Geneva, and that means passion is fierce on the field and in the stands when it comes to the four schools and their annual Tri-City Night matches.
But the faithful from Batavia’s Bulldogs, Geneva’s Vikings, and either St. Charles’ Saints from East and North Stars from North, have made it a tradition to show their compassion for a neighbor needing assistance.
As a cheerleading coach at St. Charles East, Tawny Powers has relished her team's turns in the spotlight with seven-straight teams that have qualified for the state finals. However, being in the spotlight herself is something Powers doesn’t relish any more than the stuggle of her continuing battle with breast cancer.
Just a week shy of an eighth surgery due to the disease, Powers will be the recipient of the fundraising efforts from the 2018 girls soccer edition of the Tri-City Night. In the four programs' quest to help others, this time it is one of their own.
“Originally I was impressed and pleased to be a part of when the boys soccer season in the fall and the girls in the spring showed their heart and generosity helping to raise money for a local family with an event billed as the ‘Pride of the Fox.’ But I never imagined how it would hit home,” Powers said. “Now all I can say is how blessed I feel to have the prayers and support, either personal or financial, from the communities.”
In February, 2016, Powers discovered a lump. A mammogram and ultrasound brought an initial decision that a six-month follow-up was warranted. At that time it was discovered that the lump had grown 23 percent. A lumpectomy discovered a cancer known as invasive mucinous carcinoma. The doctor’s diagnosis, that it was the best kind of breast cancer, seemed incomprehensible to Powers.
“All I heard was the word ‘cancer.’ My heart sank and my thoughts were spinning,” Powers recalled. “With two sons, I was hoping to be pregnant again and have a girl, but my life changed in ways I couldn’t imagine. Obviously I cried a lot.”
Kate McCullagh, a fellow physical education instructor who was home on maternity leave, heard the news and packed up her daughter and newborn son to find her close friend. She found Powers in a faculty room.
“Kate just held me; she was my saving grace. Having lost her father to cancer, she was the one that called my doctor back to understand the diagnosis and get an explanation on what was next,” Powers recalled. “She told me the tumor was mucous-filled, something only four percent encounter, and that it was a slow-growing cancer.”
The cancer proved difficult to eradicate. In September, 2016, the then 31-year-old had the first surgery. That’s when Powers found her own resolve.
“I told myself I can’t feel sorry, I must move forward, I must keep fighting, I must keep pushing back,” she remembered. “I decided the best thing I could do was surround myself with those I love, and those that love me. That Friday night I went to an East football game where my cheerleaders and friends rallied around me.”
In the weeks that followed there were injections plus hormone therapy for a March, 2017, surgery.
A subsequent surgery to correct a complication found another lump. It proved to be a return of the disease.
Powers doctors have been in awe of her perseverance. Radiation therapy created the need for more surgery. An eighth is planned for May 14 with another later this summer.
Needless to say, the medical bills have grown exponentially.
The Tri-City Night teams hope more local businesses will become involved with the event. A special “Tri-City Night” T-shirt is on sale for $10. Along with great soccer action, the evening will include food, fun and prizes.
“We’re hoping all players purchase the “Tri-City Night” shirt and wear them as a reminder that although we play against each other on the field, we are united together in a special cause that is bigger than the game of soccer,” St. Charles North coach Brian Harks said.