‘Coaches vs. Cancer’ raises $2,275 for American Cancer Society

Amidst a competitive game, Owatonna and Rochester Mayo High School fans cheered for a common cause, as the Owatonna Hoops Club gave a check of $2,275 to the  American Cancer Society. In a Coaches vs. Cancer event Thursday, Jan. 22, rival fans gave toward the check via donations, raffle tickets and the opportunity to take their photo with the University of Minnesota football team’s “Floyd of Rosedale” and the “Little Brown Jug.”
One of the key organizers of the event, elementary school teacher, Jodie DeKam, said the event has taken a personal interest with her. Each year, a family who has had a member suffer from cancer presents the final check. When DeKam first became involved in 2009, a family friend was the honored guest. In 2010, it was her family who was honored. DeKam has become continually more involved ever since. 
As part of the planning committee, DeKam helps plan the event, decide on items to be raffled, choose a family to be honored and delegate the designing of t-shirts. 
The table holding the “Floyd of Rosedale” and the “Little Brown Jug” proved to be one of the night’s most popular places as children, parents and even referees took their pictures with the coveted trophies.
“The trophies have been requested a lot,” said Greg Gerlach, General Manager for Gopher Sports Properties. He added that the Gophers Organization isn’t thrilled with having the trophies out overnight, but that his agreeing to go along with them helped ease minds. “It’s a great cause, and I’m happy to do it,” said Gerlach. 
The trophies were requested through Julie Rethemeier, who is the Director of Public Affairs at Federated Mutual Insurance Company. Rethemeier, who said Federated has a good relationship with the Gophers, then reached out to Gerlach, who approved the arrangement.
“(Owatonna High School) gave us a couple options of different games we could come to, and we agreed this one seemed to be a good one,” said Rethemeier. 
This year, the family of David Kabista was honored. Dave Kabista (66) died on Oct. 31, 2014. Some may know David’s brothers, Daniel and Dennis, who own Wagners Lunch in Owatonna. To help support the event, Wagners Lunch donated 50 cents from every lunch special to the American Cancer Society. In a single week, the brothers raised $507 for the cause. The Kabista family also volunteered at the event Thursday, selling raffle tickets. 
“It’s a special thing,” Dan Kabista said of the event. “It’s a positive moving on.”
For DeKam, these events serve as a reminder. “When you come to an event like this and see people rallying for the cause, you realize the fight isn’t over,” said DeKam. 
At halftime, raffle tickets were drawn and money was counted. However, it was not until the end of the second half that the check was presented. At this point in the tightly contested game, emotions were high, but it all seemed to pause as a timeout was called, and the Kabista family walked onto the court. As the check was presented, both sides of the bleachers applauded.