Dateline: March 10, 2005

Hedley athlete lining up help for friends

Every once in a while someone comes along who makes an impression on you.

For Jaci Copelin, a sophomore at Hedley High School, that person is Amy Polito.

Amy is the wife of Tony Polito, a local state trooper, and she was recently diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and is going to have to go through treatments at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston.

The Politos’ situation is doubly trying because Amy is currently pregnant with the couple’s first child, and she will have to wait until it is safe for doctors to take her baby early before the cancer treatments can begin.

With the double cost of a new baby and cancer treatments, the Politos will need all the financial support they can get. Though the prognosis is optimistic, they still need all the love, prayers, and support the community can give them; and that is where Jaci and her friendship with the Politos come in.

Sixteen-year-old Jaci has decided to take pledges based on her track performance to raise money to help her friends at this critical time in their lives.

During this season, Jaci will participate in the 800-meter run, the triple jump, and the 300-meter hurdles. For every first place she gets, she will seek a pledge of $5, $3 for every second place, and $1 for every third place.

For example, Medina Gribble has already signed up and will donate $9 for Jaci’s performance this past week where the young Lady Owl placed first, second, and third in separate events.

Those wishing to make a pledge are asked to call Jaci or her mother, Tangela, at 856-0110 or 662-6145. If there is no answer, just leave your name, number, and address; and she will send you an envelope with the amount you owe at the end of the track season.

Or to make a one time donation to this endeavor, it can be mailed to the Copelins at RR 1, Box 50, Hedley, TX 79237.

Jaci and her mother plan to place periodic updates in the Enterprise to let everyone know what places Jaci has won at the track meets and to let them know how the fundraiser is going.