The Western Nebraska Community College softball team made Scleroderma Awareness Day something special. Not only did the Cougars earn 10-2 and 11-1 victories against Dawson Community College to go to 7-1 in conference play and picking up their 20th win of the season, WNCC donated all the money from the gate and concession stand to the Scleroderma Foundation.
WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said it was a special day all the way around.
“We had Scleroderma Awareness Day because one of our players, Brenda Hearn had the condition, to raise some money for the Scleroderma Foundation,” Winn-Ratliff said. “It has been unique, especially for myself because I didn’t know anything about it before her coming here, so she has educated all of us on it.”
Saturday’s doubleheader with Dawson Community College was called Strike Outs for Scleroderma and the college gave out information packets about Scleroderma as well as WNCC items for each strike out by a WNCC pitcher.
“We just wanted to help get the awareness out and let people in our community know about it,” Winn-Ratliff said. “I don’t think, prior to Brenda coming here, that many people knew about it. We have had responses from the articles [in the newspaper and the website] from other people that want to help, so the information is getting out there.”
Hearn was appreciative for the special day that the college organized to help raise funds for the Scleroderma Foundation.
“The day was pretty special because I was surprised to see all the people that came to the game. I really liked that the people were there to not only support the softball team, but also to support the Scleroderma Foundation,” the freshman from New Mexico, said.
People still can donate, said Winn-Ratliff, because the special turquoise shirts that the players wore in the game will be auctioned off.
“Today was a great opportunity for us to do some community support and learn more about the disease,” she said. “The girls autographed their shirts that they wore in today’s games. We are going to have an auction where people can either email or text message their bids so we can get the Scleroderma Foundation some money to get some more research and also help us to better educate ourselves. We just want to help Brenda and others that have that condition.”
The shirts were autographed by the player and they will be auctioned off through the Internet. Individuals can bid on the shirts April 11, the date of the softball team’s last home game. All the money raised during the jersey auction will go to the Scleroderma Foundation.
Hearn is hoping that a lot of people send in bids. There are 16 shirts available to be bid on, including Hearn’s shirt.
“I think this is a cool idea because the more money the Scleroderma Foundation can get, the more ways they can try to find cures so people with Scleroderma have more options. So, with the jersey’s being auctioned, I think it is a cool way for people to get something and for the foundation to get something.”
On Monday, pictures of the player with their autographed shirts will be online on the WNCC athletic website (sports.wncc.net). Individuals then can either email or text message head coach Maria Winn-Ratliff (winnm@wncc.net or 308-6725880), assistant coach Molly Bonuchi (mollybonuchi@sbcglobal.net or 573-489-0484) or Mark Rein (mrein@wncc.net or 308-631-0459) with a bid to purchase that player’s jersey. The bids will then be listed on the website with the current-leading highest bid. Bidding will close at noon on April 11. To bid, the individuals needs to include the player's name/number, bid amount, and contact information.
“I am letting my whole family know about it,” Hearn said. “Hopefully everyone else passes along the word and checks out the website to put in a few bucks.”
Hearn is still in awe of how WNCC and Winn-Ratliff has taken on a project like this to educate everyone about Scleroderma, a rare disease that is a condition which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. The disease varies as moderate to severe and sometimes even life-threatening.
“I really appreciate the day because the day lets people know and to be aware of Scleroderma is and how confusing it is,” Hearn said. “For them to make a day for me was really special. And letting the community know about it is also really cool.
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