Fourteen teams vied for first place in a tournament at Valley View High School to raise money for a 15-year-old Valley View freshman cheerleader diagnosed with cancer.
The tournament — held last weekend — was a benefit for Kelcey Borden who is battling Stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
In an interview last month, Kelcey’s sister, Natasha Kuykendall, said her sister has undergone severals months of treatments and is holding up well.
However, fighting cancer takes a toll.
“She has good days and bad days and she’s lost her hair,” Natasha Kuykendall said.
Kelcey’s community is embracing the high school student.
Family friend Ashlee Nickerson said Saturday’s tournament event netted $4,000 for Kelcey’s cause.
Nickerson said the co-ed event was a full day of fun as well as a serious competition for some local athletes.
“The teams included a group from Gainesville Fire Department, teams from businesses, high school guys from Lindsay and Callisburg, and a group who graduated in the 1990s from Valley Viiew. Several of our friends also formed teams,” she said. “The teams ranged from junior high girls to men in their 50s.”
Two teams shared companionship honors, the Lindsay high school men’s team and a group of players from Gainesville and Valley View, Nickerson noted.
Players plowed their way through 26 games from nine in the morning until 6 p.m.
“It was double elimination and most people played three or four games, everyone was exhausted,” she said.
Kelcey was also at the tournament.
“Kelcey was there and got kind of tired around 2 or 3 (p.m.) and went home to rest, but she was there most of the day,” she said. “She’s doing chemo every Friday. Sometimes, she has a spinal tap and that’s pretty painful for her. It gives her a very bad headache, so bad she can’t sit up. But she was okay Saturday.”
Friends and family members sold concessions during the event and held a raffle.
“Everything was donated,” Nickerson said.
Kelcey’s supporters are looking forward to an even larger fund raiser January 31, she said.
The event is scheduled to be held in the K.C. Hall, and tickets are $10.
“This includes a brisket dinner and raffle. Drinks (such as beer) will be sold separately,” she said.
Nickerson said she has an impressive list of donations for the silent auction including items from the Dallas Mavericks, the Texas Rangers, Janine Turner, a hand-made quilt by Kay Neu, items from Home Depot, Six Flags Over Texas, Women's Wellness and Aesthetics-- $300 microdermasionm Classic Touch by Denise, the Bee Hive, feed from Ranch Land, items from Boscoes, Jewels by Parklane, massages, Texas Motor Speedway, restuarant gift cards, and many other items and services.
She said she put her heart into obtaining donations for her friend.
“I just been relentlessly calling potential donors,” she said — anything to help Kelcey.
There is also a benefit account open for Kelcey at the First State Bank.
“She’s been really touched by everybody who stepped up to help, people she doesn’t even know are donating,” Nickerson said.
For more on Kelcey’s benefit see www.thatguyrocks.com, check for the link to Kelcey care benefit.
To purchase tickets, make a donation, or for more information, call (940)736-9753 or (940)634-2954. All donations are tax deductible. Kelceys Care is a 501(c)(3) organization.
There is also a benefit account open for Kelcey at the First State Bank, Nickerson noted.
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Kelcey's tournament nets over $4K
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