The Western Kentucky University volleyball team will host a spring tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, April 20 along with a fundraiser to benefit the Friends of Jaclyn and Hope for Harlie foundations.
The tournament is set to begin at 9 a.m. with further details of opponent and specific times coming the week of the tournament. Admission to the tournament is free while donation boxes will be setup in Diddle Arena for those wishing to donate to the organizations. Those unable to attend the tournament can still contribute through the donation forms. For more information about the tournament or donating, contact Abbie Bear at abbie.bear190@topper.wku.edu.
Hope for Harlie
Earlier this year, the WKU volleyball team welcomed seven-year-old Harlie Bryant to its team. Bryant was diagnosed with a brain tumor behind her eyes in the spring of 2011. Since then, Harlie has been through CT scans, MRIs, surgeries, chemotherapy and more. Now a member of the volleyball team, Bryant is at every home game. She is with the team in the huddle and at introductions while she cheers with her family from the sidelines during games.
For more information on Hope for Harlie, visit the website HopeForHarlie.org.
Friends of Jaclyn
The Lady Toppers and Harlie were joined by the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation (FOJ), a charitable, non-profit organization that strives to enhance and strengthen the support system built around children with pediatric brain tumors. Through the program, adopted children become part of the team and build unique friendships. Children also gain an incredible group of caring role models to look up to when they need the extra support.
Along with the Adopt-a-Child program, FOJ has the Safe-on-the-Sidelines program for siblings where brothers or sisters of adopted children are adopted by an athletic team. FOJ also has a program called Jaclyn’s Angels for children that are in hospice or are too sick for an adoption.
Since Harlie's adoption in the fall of 2012, two more WKU programs have joined in FOJ's mission. The WKU softball team adopted Anne Claire Scheuler, a nine-year-old with a pediatric brain tumor, while the soccer team welcomed Anne Claire's sister Ellie as part of the Safe-on-the-Sidelines program.
For more information on the organization, visit FriendsofJaclyn.net.
The Lady Toppers are currently in spring practices with 10 returners from last season's squad that set historic marks in program history, including the program's first NCAA Tournament win. Stay up-to-date on the WKU volleyball team at WKUSports.com.
