NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY – It was a special night on the court for several families in North St. Louis County.
Before tip-off at the Hazelwood East-McCluer varsity basketball game Thursday night, players and coaches dressed in pink and handed out roses to honor several people battling cancer as well as cancer survivors.
“To say to these people that we are supporting them, let them know that they are loved, they are not alone. We are supporting them and helping them fight this fight,” said Hazelwood East coach, Lawndale Thomas.
Thomas lost his mother to cancer as a teenager, and two of his players' mothers have cancer now.
Several weeks ago, the team surprised those mothers with roses before a game.
This time, the tribute extended to the opposing team. Thomas said McClure also has team families affected by cancer.
Players on both teams participated in the event, wearing special pink socks during the game.
Thomas said he hopes this event teaches the players something, too.
“Unity, solidarity, caring, and love,” he said. “Can’t always think about yourself. Sometime you [have] to think about others. You [have] to treat others like you want to be treated because you never know one day you might go through something tragic.”
Hazelwood East partnered with the American Cancer Society for Thursday night’s event. Students collected donations and passed out stickers for cancer awareness.
