A high school volleyball coach is turning a cancer diagnosis into a learning opportunity, helping others facing the same struggles along the way.
Karen O’Brien’s quest for awareness and fundraising has St. Mary’s Catholic Central and sports teams across the state ready for a ‘teal attack.’
“With the teal attack it was a reason to keep pushing and keep moving forward,” she says.
Volleyball is a way of life for O’Brien, head coach at St. Mary’s Catholic Central. She was a college player herself and coach for more than 30 years, so when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in February it only seemed fitting to merge the two.
“Teal attack was created as an initiative of movement using high school and college sports to bring awareness and to raise money for ovarian cancer,” she says.
Teal is the color of ovarian cancer awareness -attacking the cancer through research and knowledge.
“It’s the whole concept of no one fights alone,” Rose Kemmerling says. She’s a student at St. Mary’s Catholic Central and a volleyball player.
That was certainly the case as the Kestrels took on their rival New Boston Huron in September.
“We had tremendous support from the community, the parents of my team put on an incredible event,” O’Brien says. “We raised over $9,200 in one night.”
“It was so exciting and everyone was here and dressed in teal,” player Regan Hodgson said. “No one was in red and no one was in green so everyone came together for one cause.”
Inspiring other volleyball teams in high school and at the college level across the state to hold their own “teal attack matches.”
“It’s really just about bringing awareness, you know there are symptoms to ovarian cancer- bloating, feeling full, being tired,” O’Brien says.
It’s a lesson for these student athletes well beyond their already undefeated season.
“Coach O’Brien is an All Star because she has not only inspired the entire community, but she’s a great role model for all of us,” Kemmerling says.
Coach O’Brien is now cancer free as she and her team look to defend their state title.
“Cancer is not necessarily a bad thing, you can find good in everything,” O’Brien says.
You can find the ‘teal attack’ schedule and more on ovarian cancer awareness through the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance.
