The Coldwater community, the same folks who will be bitter rivals come Saturday night, are opening their hearts to a Clinton-Massie family.
According to Coldwater athletic director Eric Goodwin, the Coldwater community is raising money to give to Clinton-Massie freshman Savanna Coffman, who had a heart transplant Wednesday afternoon. She is a reserve football cheerleader.
"The Coldwater community has heard about the Clinton-Massie cheerleder going through a heart transplant," Goodwin said. "We are raising as much money as possible in the next two days to present it to Clinton-Massie. This is a great reminder as to what high school sports are truly meant to be."
Coffman's family was informed early Wednesday of a donor heart being available, according to CMHS principal Randy Dunlap. They agreed to take the heart and had the surgery Wednesday afternoon. Dunlap said she came out of the surgery in good shape Wednesday night.
"The heart was beating," he said.
Coldwater will meet Clinton-Massie 7 p.m. Saturday in the Region 16 championship football game at Welcome Stadium.
Dunlap said the idea that a rival school would do such a thing is remarkable.
"This is a wonderful thing that Coldwater is doing for Savanna and her family," Dunlap said. "I am sure that Savanna's family will be touched by the show of caring and support from the Coldwater community. We at Clinton-Massie appreciate all of their efforts and the efforts of everyone else in regards to this situation.
"It is an issue that goes beyond football or competition. Through their efforts in helping to support the family and Savanna, they (Coldwater) have truly demonstrated what sportsmanship and goodwill is all about. This puts everything in perspective in terms of life and what really matters most."
Clinton-Massie athletic director Keith Mattison said Coldwater's gesture is nothing but class.
"How cool is that?" Mattison said. "What a class act from a bunch of great people. Kind of gets you teary-eyed. For them to care enough to give money to one of our kids is big."
Reader Comments Posted: Sunday, November 18, 2007
Article comment by:
Toni Jasper
You broke our hearts on the field and now you won them back with this show of compassion. Alter Football Parent
Posted: Saturday, November 17, 2007
Article comment by:
Tammy Kozarec
We are hosting a cheerleading competition at Trent Arena in Kettering on Sunday, Nov. 18. We are taking donations and also Fairmont Cheerleading will be making a donation to support Savanna. How/where can we drop off our donation?
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