Members of the senior girls basketball team Ruby Hamilton and Ana Zayas are seen reacting to cold water as they participate in the popular "Ice Bucket Challenge."--NEWS PHOTOS BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Surrounded by dozens of Medicine Hat High School basketball players dawning purple jerseys, Mayor Linnsie Clark officially declared ALS Week in the city from Feb 21-28, highlighting the impacts of the progressive disease that affects cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing.
Wednesday afternoon, players on both the junior and senior girls and boys basketball teams gathered in the school’s gymnasium alongside staff members coaches and Clark for the official proclamation announcement.
This year the teams were able to partner with several local businesses which will be selling purple theme items throughout the week to raise funds to support local initiatives and raise awareness about the important cause.
Clark says she is inspired by the student athletes’ motivation to collaborate within the local business community and raise awareness for a devastating illness.
“There’s no cure right now,” Clark said. “And to have this many people, including youth, come together for such an amazing cause, it’s just so inspiring. It gives me hope for the future. When we work together as a community, we can accomplish a lot. And this was a self start, the city had nothing to do with it, these people in our community just came together to do something good.”
This Friday members of the Hawks will proudly wear their purple uniforms to honour the memory of Karen Wagenaar, who was a dedicated Hat High basketball fan known to attend all her son’s games, despite her diagnosis.
“She still managed to make it to every single game,” explains Gerad Wagenaar, Karen’s son and coach of the JV women’s team. “And it was just like, ‘You don’t have to do this, it’s just a high school basketball game,’ but there she was in her chair, sitting and watching the action.”
Wagenaar passed away from ALS in 2017. In 2018 the school began hosting a memorial day of matches with schools from Raymond, Carson and Lethbridge, with all students wearing special ALS purple jerseys to raise awareness about the professional neurological disorder.
Students also host bake sales and raise money to support local ALS initiatives and research.
“It just shows that it’s more than just a basketball game in the end,” says Gerad. “It’s not even about my mom at this point. It’s just about raising awareness and spreading awareness for ALS and raising a bunch of money, because the things they need don’t come regularly.”
Gerad cites the increasing cost for medical apparatuses including hoist systems and power wheelchairs, as well as personal hygiene items including specialized utensils and toothbrushes designed for people with limited mobility.
“You can’t just go to Walmart and get it right? So it’s so big to see all these teams and all these schools participate in it … Honestly, it brings a tear to my eye, makes me a little emotional.”
Turner Sadlemyer, on the senior boys team, says he’s motivated to play in the annual memorial game as it provides student athletes an opportunity to play for something deeper than the game.
“We’re playing for a cause, and we’re playing for the family, playing to raise awareness,” Sadlemyer said. “I’d call myself an activist for social things and all that kind of stuff, it’s good to be able to play for that, have the opportunity at this age to play for a deep cause like that.
To begin motivating others to take action during ALS Week, members of the senior girls basketball team took part in the well-known and bone-chilling “Ice Bucket Challenge,” while nominating fellow student athletes, family members and friends.
Bella Leismeister is a member of the senior girls team who drenched herself with fellow teammates for the cause. Leismeister played for coach Gerad as a junior and described the emotions while playing in the memorial game.
“When people come to our games, everyone’s wearing purple, like everyone. The stands are packed. It’s awesome to have everyone come together for one cause and support like that,” she said.
“Even the teams we’re playing, they’ll wear their purple shirts, they always support, they’ll do challenges with us every year. So it’s just awesome to see all of the people, like our age, getting involved and being part of the cause.”
