South Charlotte Sports Report “HOMETOWN TEAMS ... HOMETOWN KIDS” Volume 6, Issue 13 www.southcharlottesports.com October 20, 2011 - FREE LEARNING ON AND OFF THE VOLLEYBALL COURT ... Madeline Stefan learns from her mother’s battle with breast cancer. on breast cancer for my magazine at more than ever. Her sense of what the time. It was a surreal experience has real value in this world is ex- to be putting the finishing touches on tremely mature. Although this was a story called “The Girl Next Door” not an easy experience for us, both of because of the fact that one out of us have grown in wisdom and grace every eight women is diagnosed with and there is no richer gift.” Upcoming Events breast cancer and one out of every Madeline also lived the highs and four of those will die from the dis- lows with her mom’s fight. Oct 22-23 4th Annual Basketball ease.” “For some reason, in the begin- Boot Camp Needless to say, Madeline was ning of my mom’s battle I was em- very surprised by the diagnosis and barrassed about my situation and Nov 8-9 After School Basketball like most her age, she wasn’t quite kept it very secretive. I felt that by Prep Camp sure what was going to happen. sharing my struggles and stresses Nov 12 3rd Annual Carolinas “At first it was a little tough to un- with my friends that I was in some Gridiron Classic Pop Warner derstand. My mother did an amaz- way searching for pity. On Christmas Football Bowl Games ing job at shielding my brother and day I remember going off to my Dad’s I from unnecessary worry. I didn’t to open presents while my mom got Nov 19-20 2nd Annual Pre-Season know a whole lot about what was in her car to go to her radiation ses- Basketball Tournament going on but one thought I remem- sion and I thought “nobody should ber having is “well she doesn’t need have to spend Christmas doing that” Dec 3 3rd Annual Baseball chemo so it can’t be that bad” As It was tough for me to see my mom in Arm Care Clinic time went on and my mom began that situation but it makes me proud Dec 10 1st Annual Greater Charlotte her radiation treatments, I began to to know how well she handled it.” Youth Football Awards realize our situation. My mom was Katherine is now four years can- battling cancer, but I knew one thing cer free and she considers the breast Dec 21 & 22 6th Annual Christmas Break she might have been hesitant to ac- cancer to be the biggest blessing in Basketball Camp knowledge herself, She couldn’t lose. her life. It forced her to take a step My mom doesn’t lose.” back and see the true side of human Dec 21 & 22 3rd Annual Christmas Break Katherine began her fight and it kindness in life from friends, family Volleyball Camp wasn’t easy for anyone in her family. and strangers. Jan 11 - Feb 29 3rd Annual Winter Training “During diagnosis I was a single The fight also changed life for Academy for Baseball and mom and an entrepreneur. I didn’t Madeline in many ways. Softball (every Wednesday have much time to consider giving in “My mom’s fight has affected night at CBC Baseball) to the disease or allowing it to impact me in more ways than I would have my life. There were several parents initially thought. First off, the color February 11 5th Annual Greater Charlotte in my daughter’s grade that were los- pink took on a new meaning. To me, Hot Stove League Dinner ing their battle to cancer while I was it’s not so much the dainty fairy- going through treatment. I didn’t princess color everyone imagines, March 10-11 4th Annual South Charlotte want my son or daughter to worry so it’s pure strength and perseverance. Sports Report All Star Basketball Tournament Life can change without warning, I was very stoic and protective both And on the day of Serve For The no one knows this better than Kath- as a coping mechanism and to pro- Cure (a Charlotte Latin volleyball For more information erine Stefan. The mother of Char- tect my children from worry. At one fundraiser) the first thing I do when www.southcharlottesportscamps.com lotte Latin sophomore Madeline Ste- point during the process I had been I get there is grab my friend and run fan was diagnosed with breast cancer told the cancer may have spread to to the dedication board where I write in 2007. There was no warning, just my lymph nodes and they found ab- my moms name in big, pink letters. a few words from a doctor’s mouth. normal tissue in my first post treat- Cancer has become real to me and It placed her life and the life of Mad- ment mammogram which made my so has the driving force behind find- FAST BREAK eline into a whole different world. own mortality painfully real.” ing a cure, for more than just breast “I was at a routine physical with “I think this was hard on my cancer. It makes me proud to see that my primary physician when I was daughter to have a mom go through sea of pink on the day of the tourna- COUPON 42,” said Katherine. “He reminded this when she was in junior high and ment and the only thing I can think me that I should be getting annual entering her teen years. It’s natural is “strength in numbers.” Because of mammograms. It was the summer that a daughter pulls away from her my mom’s fight, I have decided that I Christmas of 2007 and I was in fantastic health, mother in her teens and I think it was WILL make time to find a cure and I ate well, and I was religious about ex- also hard for her to see classmates CAN make a difference in the lives of Basketball Camp ercising. I didn’t think of myself as losing their parents while her mom people affected by breast cancer.” in my forties and I was too busy run- seemed to be fine on the outside. We Strong and powerful words for ning a business and raising children struggled for a few years as a natu- this special young lady, Madeline December 21-22 to make time for mammograms.” ral part of the grieving and growing Stefan. Madeline brings the lessons “I had an aunt and a great aunt process, a lot of life changes were of life to the volleyball court and la- Fast Break Price: $55 that had breast cancer, both were forced upon us as a small family as a crosse fields where she enjoys com- post-menopausal, but that’s not con- result of my illness, but I believe my peting for the Hawks. She started (before November 15th) sidered a genetic connection, so I daughters life has been enriched by playing volleyball in the 7th grade for didn’t consider myself at risk. Mine this experience too. I lost my job and two reasons. was discovered as a result of my first had to take a job in another state but Enroll at: routine mammogram and I was actu- I think we are closer now and value See MADELINE STEFAN, Page 8 www.southcharlottesportscamps.com ally in the process of editing a story our relationship and time together Page 2 GRADES + DESIRE PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THEVolume 6, Issue 13 + TALENT = OPPORTUNITY SOUTH CHARLOTTE SPORTS REPORT It’s a simple formula that I preach about all the time. If a high school stu- AT THESE LOCATIONS dent athlete can combine a solid grade point average with desire and talent, Play It Again Sports Dr. Garden Dentistry they will have every opportunity to play their chosen sport on the next level. Community House Middle School Robek’s Juice Dick’s Sporting Goods – Matthews Run For Your Life Without the first part of that combination, the ability to complete the formula Mathnasium Sports Orthopedic is much harder. 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