Normally when the Panthers and the Wolverines are in one gym you can cut the tension with a knife, however not last week. On Friday, both schools came together in honor of the late Kaitlyn “Kait” Francis who had passed away January 28.
Francis was an Ellwood City senior who lost her battle with cancer after being diagnosed back in elementary school.
Students and athletes alike came together to show strength in by wearing the black shirts that read “She Was Not Meant to Break” on the front, with a gold ribbon, which stands for childhood cancer awareness, and “Kait” on the back. Both schools held candles for a candlelit vigil and a moment of silence for the girl before the varsity game began. The cheerleaders used their silver and blue pom poms to create the ribbon and her name in front of the two sections.
“I’m thankful to live in a community where we can all come together in times like this.” Maggie Hardin, a Riverside junior, said, “I know that Ellwood would do the same for us if the roles were reversed.”
Once the vigil was over, students from each section began chanting “Kaits our hero” as the boys’ basketball teams huddled up before the game. [VIEW GAME PHOTOS]
Francis had been apart of Ellwood City’s Club Hope since she was in seventh grade and the founder of the Club Hope Foundation, Cara Atkinson, gave a speech in Kate’s honor.
“Thank you Kait for all that you taught us in your 17 years of life,” Atkinson had said. “You will never be forgotten and as we continue spreading hope, we will do it in your name.”
Atkinson had ended her tribute with a quote from Christopher Reeve that she described as a perfect fit for Kait: “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
Within the last week, both schools had sold over 750 shirts and at the game, they sold bracelets that said “Kaits Krew”, the shirt sold for $15 and the bracelets for $10. All proceeds went right back to the Francis family.
“Ariana Garroway and I would like to thank Venezies Sporting Goods and the community for all of their support with the t-shirt sale,” said Ellwood Senior Sydni Haswell. Haswell, along with Garroway, started the sale of the t-shirts the students wore at the game.
“We couldn’t have done it without Maggie Hardin and Tanner Leavens [Riverside juniors],” Haswell continued, “It was amazing how the students all came together for Kait.”
Hardin also wanted to thank everyone who purchased a shirt or donated, as well as thanking Garroway and Haswell for starting all of this.
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