Soccer team turns out for Karns City mom
KARNS CITY — Stacy Martin has been constantly on the move since she started cancer treatments in 2019, when her breast cancer returned after first being diagnosed in 2013.
Taking her daughter, McKenna Martin, to soccer practices and games over her playing career at Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School has also kept her busy.
Thursday evening, all the effort Martin spent cheering on the Gremlins was returned by the players of the team, who raised more than $3,600 for her treatments by gathering donations and selling T-shirts over the past month.
Martin said the initiative by the team was a big help.
“It is amazing that they did this,” Martin said. “The first time I went through treatment I worked through it, but now I can’t work. It was their idea to do this.”
The team presented Martin with the checks at halftime at Thursday’s soccer game against Dubois, which was also the annual “pink out” game, where the entire team wore pink shirts in support of breast cancer awareness.
Tracy Dailey, head coach of the girls team, said the players made fundraiser shirts recognizing Martin, which were sold at the Shoppe at Paradise & Grove in Chicora. The team sold around 170 shirts, raising about $1,225, and they gathered $2,400 more in community donations.
“We have eight or nine freshmen, and none of them have shirts,” Dailey said. “It is a year we needed to get some new shirts, and we kind of went from there.”
Liz Werner, owner of the Shoppe at Paradise & Grove, attended Karns City school district in her youth, and said she wanted to help with the fundraiser after seeing the community support her shop.
“I’m always trying to look to give back because the community has been good to us,” Werner said. “We’re happy to give back like that.”
At halftime, Martin walked to center field to receive the donations — and hugs — from the members of the team. Even the other team ventured to the field to applaud the Karns City team.
Despite the challenges Martin has faced fighting cancer, she is keeping her head held high throughout.
“I’m on a new medication; this one seems to be working,” Martin said. “I’m metastatic now; it’s in my brain, bones, liver — just pretty much everywhere.”
Because of Martin’s hectic schedule with doctor’s appointments, she said any money donated to help her pay bills helps.
“I have to get brain scans every three months, the CT scans of my chest, abdomen, pelvis every three months,” Martin said. “I’m always moving, and they add things, it all adds up.”
McKenna, a senior at Karns City, was back on the field after halftime, but Dailey said the team has supported her and her family throughout her mother’s treatment.
“She’s taking it with stride,” Dailey said of McKenna. “She is coming in, working really hard every day at practice and games. She knows that the community is supporting her and with her mom for her fight.”
