Warsaw Football Players, Students Raise Funds For Cancer Victims
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw Football Players, Students Raise Funds For Cancer Victims
By David [email protected]
Cathy Abbitt is battling terminal cancer now, according to Jefferson Elementary School Principal Dennis Duncan.
Both women are part of the Jefferson Elementary and Warsaw Community High School football team families. Because of their ties and courage, Jefferson students and football players will be raising money this weekend for the Tracey Yeager Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund and The Abbitt Family.
Duncan said many people in the community knew Tracey and the Yeager family. Fighting cancer for five years, Duncan said there were times you could tell she couldn't move too well, but she would still be at her kids' events. She refused to let cancer control her life. Duncan said she would often cheer him up, even though she was the one battling cancer.
Tracey, the wife of Steve Yeager and mother of three, accepted an appointment to and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1990, becoming a naval officer. She served in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter pilot, earned the rank of lieutenant and was honorably discharged in 1999 to be a stay-at-home mom.
WCHS head football coach Phil Jensen said Steve Yeager is a volunteer coach for the Tigers. Steve has worked with the Warsaw football team every time Jensen has coached the Tigers.
"It's one thing to volunteer one's time, but when your wife (has cancer) ...," Jensen said. "She wouldn't let Steve not volunteer."
Tracey loved the football team, the school and her community, Jensen said.
"She was such an unselfish person. I can't imagine how she made it about everyone else the entire time," Jensen said. "She never let anything get her down, that I saw. She loved her family, kids, the school and her community. The way she lived was a huge example for all of us."
In honor of Tracey, the Tiger football motto this year is "Fight the Good Fight". The motto and Tracey's initials are on football shirts and other gear.
Yeager's children go to Jefferson Elementary. Cathy Abbitt taught third grade at Jefferson.
Cathy Abbitt's son, Matt, is a senior on the football team. Her older son, Nate, also previously played for the Tigers. Daughter Amy played soccer and basketball at the high school.
Duncan said even though the doctors said Cathy only had days to live, he visited her Monday and she seemed pretty good.
"We want to honor her and support her," Duncan said.
When Tracey died in May, the football team wanted to do something to honor her.
Earlier this summer, the football players had a dunk tank during a First Friday event. They raised $525.
This Saturday, the junior varsity and varsity football players will have two car washes to raise more money. The car washes will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Detroit Street Penguin Point and JB Furniture on Center Street.
The first home football game and senior night is Friday. During the game, Jefferson students will be selling wrist bands that read "Fight the Good Fight". The cost is two for $5.
"All funds raised go to The Tracey Ann Yeager Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund and to the Abbitt Family to help with expenses," said Jensen.
The scholarship fund is through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. It benefits women who are pursuing non-traditional career paths. Tax-deductible contributions to the fund can be made to the foundation with "Tracey Yeager" on the memo line.
The Cancer Care Fund exists to help ease the financial burden often felt by patients and their families. The fund is administered through the K21 Health Foundation office under the guidance of a committee of Kosciusko County residents.
If anyone wants to give a contribution to the Cancer Care Fund, the Scholarship Fund or for the Abbitt Family, they also can send a check to Warsaw Community Schools, made out to WCS, attention Phil Jensen or Denny Duncan. In the memo line on the check, the donor should put what the check is for. Jensen said a person also is welcome to call him or Duncan for more information.
Of the fundraising efforts, Jensen said, "It's just kind of our way to show support."[[In-content Ad]]
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Cathy Abbitt is battling terminal cancer now, according to Jefferson Elementary School Principal Dennis Duncan.
Both women are part of the Jefferson Elementary and Warsaw Community High School football team families. Because of their ties and courage, Jefferson students and football players will be raising money this weekend for the Tracey Yeager Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund and The Abbitt Family.
Duncan said many people in the community knew Tracey and the Yeager family. Fighting cancer for five years, Duncan said there were times you could tell she couldn't move too well, but she would still be at her kids' events. She refused to let cancer control her life. Duncan said she would often cheer him up, even though she was the one battling cancer.
Tracey, the wife of Steve Yeager and mother of three, accepted an appointment to and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1990, becoming a naval officer. She served in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter pilot, earned the rank of lieutenant and was honorably discharged in 1999 to be a stay-at-home mom.
WCHS head football coach Phil Jensen said Steve Yeager is a volunteer coach for the Tigers. Steve has worked with the Warsaw football team every time Jensen has coached the Tigers.
"It's one thing to volunteer one's time, but when your wife (has cancer) ...," Jensen said. "She wouldn't let Steve not volunteer."
Tracey loved the football team, the school and her community, Jensen said.
"She was such an unselfish person. I can't imagine how she made it about everyone else the entire time," Jensen said. "She never let anything get her down, that I saw. She loved her family, kids, the school and her community. The way she lived was a huge example for all of us."
In honor of Tracey, the Tiger football motto this year is "Fight the Good Fight". The motto and Tracey's initials are on football shirts and other gear.
Yeager's children go to Jefferson Elementary. Cathy Abbitt taught third grade at Jefferson.
Cathy Abbitt's son, Matt, is a senior on the football team. Her older son, Nate, also previously played for the Tigers. Daughter Amy played soccer and basketball at the high school.
Duncan said even though the doctors said Cathy only had days to live, he visited her Monday and she seemed pretty good.
"We want to honor her and support her," Duncan said.
When Tracey died in May, the football team wanted to do something to honor her.
Earlier this summer, the football players had a dunk tank during a First Friday event. They raised $525.
This Saturday, the junior varsity and varsity football players will have two car washes to raise more money. The car washes will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Detroit Street Penguin Point and JB Furniture on Center Street.
The first home football game and senior night is Friday. During the game, Jefferson students will be selling wrist bands that read "Fight the Good Fight". The cost is two for $5.
"All funds raised go to The Tracey Ann Yeager Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund and to the Abbitt Family to help with expenses," said Jensen.
The scholarship fund is through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. It benefits women who are pursuing non-traditional career paths. Tax-deductible contributions to the fund can be made to the foundation with "Tracey Yeager" on the memo line.
The Cancer Care Fund exists to help ease the financial burden often felt by patients and their families. The fund is administered through the K21 Health Foundation office under the guidance of a committee of Kosciusko County residents.
If anyone wants to give a contribution to the Cancer Care Fund, the Scholarship Fund or for the Abbitt Family, they also can send a check to Warsaw Community Schools, made out to WCS, attention Phil Jensen or Denny Duncan. In the memo line on the check, the donor should put what the check is for. Jensen said a person also is welcome to call him or Duncan for more information.
Of the fundraising efforts, Jensen said, "It's just kind of our way to show support."[[In-content Ad]]
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