Number of Participants: 15
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $507
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Girls Volleyball
School: Smithtown High School-West
Date: October 12, 2018
Location:
Smithtown High School West
Central Road, Smithtown
NY
About:
I wanted to reach out to applaud your Girls Varsity Volleyball Coaches and Athletes for the wonderful job they did on their visit here at Lindenhurst for our Friday, October 12, 2018 match.
My coach and yours were in communication prior to the match that we would be subbing in 10 year old Kaelyn McCandless, the younger sister of two of our Varsity players, to serve during the Varsity match.
Kaelyn is fighting for her life battling brain cancer and there have been a number things we as a community have done to support her and her family during this unimaginable time for them. Smithtown West Volleyball made this particular evening an especially memorable one by agreeing to let her dress with our team and serve and volley in the match alongside her two older sisters. Your Varsity players gently pass the ball directly back to her each time and as everyone in the gym watched in excitement, your girls either intentionally hit the ball out or into the net, in order for Kaelyn to score the point. You have no idea what this meant to her parents and all of us here, who were able to see her smile while playing on the court.
Your coaches are also a true class act as they prior to the game presented Kaelyn’s mom with flowers, a generous envelope of donations, and a ball signed by the entire Smithtown West Volleyball Team.
This night was very emotional for all of us and I want to extend my appreciation to your coaches, who are true gentlemen and your student athletes, who demonstrated tremendous class.
This night is memory many of us will carry with us for a very long time and your team is a huge part of that.