Hazard Coach Chuck Fugate is battling cancer. Check out this story about how his school, fans and even rival teams are coming together to help him with his battle. Watch this WKYT video.

 

http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Rivals-come-together-to-help-coach-battle-cancer-221234661.html

 

HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - Football season is here, and one of the biggest cross-town rivals is Hazard and Perry Central.

Students from both schools are now coming together to support a coach that is battling cancer.

The goal was to raise $2,500 for Chuck Fugate's medical bills by selling "Just Win Coach" and "Fight Like a Dawg" t-shirts. The Hazard High School teacher and football coach was diagnosed with leukemia in early August.

"It wasn't a real realistic goal because we only have 300 students to make that much money," said Happy Mobelini, the Principal of Hazard High School.

But when Allison Jett, a teacher at Perry County Central High School, saw a story on WYMT about the t-shirt fundraiser, she wanted to buy some for her and her children.

"I kept thinking, 'Why just me? Why just me and my kids? Why can't our whole school do that?'" Jett said.

Then, the entire school staff and football program at Perry Central bought more than 200 shirts, raising about $1,000, and pushing Hazard High School beyond their goal.

The head football coach of Hazard High School, Mark Dixon, says this is an example of how community comes before any school rivalry.

"We're all people here in the mountains and people in Perry County and the main thing we do and what I think our culture is about is about helping each other," Dixon said

Edited August 27, 201313 yr by Watusi

Belfry scrimmaged Hazard last Friday and Belfry's coaches showed up wearing "Just Win Coach" t shirts to the scrimmage. I thought that was a nice gesture.

 

I hope they will be selling these shirts at the Pike County Bowl this weekend, I will buy a couple if so.

Love it!

Great story.

I love these type of stories!

Me too. For one thing, I am a softie. More importantly, though, some things are just more important than sports and this type of story illuminates that in a positive way.

 

Just Win Coach :thumb:

Doesn't get any better than this.

Thanks for posting this Watusi! Best wishes and prayers to Coach in his battle. Kudos to all those supporting him.