Honesdale basketball teams host annual Cancer Awareness games

HONESDALE — They call it the immortality syndrome; a strong belief, especially among teenagers and young adults, that we’re all going to live forever.

It’s a deeply ingrained feeling of invincibility which underlies so many decisions we make, good and bad. Subconsciously, it can help propel us to ecstatic highs, but it can also drive us to the depths of despair.

The immortality syndrome runs rampant among high school athletes. It compels them to push their bodies to the breaking point in a noble but sometimes quixotic quest for lasting glory.

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Witness the 90-pound cross country runner, collapsing within 20 yards of the finish line at districts. Does she just lie there crying in the cold mud? No. She crawls the rest of the way rather than quit.

And what about the 215-pound wrestler on the mat at regionals? His bloody nostrils are stuffed with cotton, his lungs are screaming and his legs are Jell-O. He doesn’t quit either, no matter what the outcome may be.

At that stage in our lives, even the possibility of death is inconceivable. We’re young, healthy and pulsing with energy. Nothing can stop us. Nothing can end us.

The painful truth

For far too many, though, the first real inkling that we’re all actually mortal comes quickly in the guise of one insidious disease.

Despite billions of dollars spent and countless hours of cutting-edge research, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there will be nearly two million new diagnoses and more than 600,000 deaths this year alone. Not surprisingly, it’s often cancer that dashes our dreams and crushes the immortality syndrome.

For Jon Gillow and Ron Rowe, cancer is an all-too-real fact of life. Both have witnessed the pain it can inflict and each strives to do something about it.

Gillow is the head coach of Honesdale’s boys varsity basketball team. Every winter he helps oversee the Hornets’ Cancer Awareness Game. This year’s contest took place on Jan. 2 against Western Wayne.

“Cancer has an impact on all of our lives,” he said. “I’ve lost a former coach and a player just within the last two years. It’s always a good thing to support the people in your community and let them know they’re not alone.”

Rowe is the girls varsity coach who works hard to make their version of the annual event happen. The Lady Hornets’ Cancer Awareness Game was played Jan. 9 versus Delaware Valley.

“I’d be shocked to meet someone whose life hasn’t been impacted by cancer,” Rowe said. “A lot of our kids have lost family members and friends to it, and I’m very proud of all the work they did in making this event happen.”

Also playing a key role in organizing the games is Kim Modrovsky. A former athlete, booster and tireless advocate for local sports, Modrovsky volunteers a huge chunk of her time to raise both funds and awareness.

“Cancer touches so many people,” she said. “I lost my dad to a short but courageous fight against pancreatic cancer, so this event is very near and dear to me.

“It warms my heart to see how generous the Honesdale community is. I am honored to take part in this event each year.”

All told, the two Cancer Awareness games generated more than $1,600 which was presented to the family of a former Lady Hornet star who’s currently waging her own war with the disease.

Cancer hits home

Allyson Hicks is the daughter of Ryan Hicks and Maggie Kielar. She grew up in Honesdale and graduated from high school in 2013.

Ally was extremely active in extracurricular activities during her HHS career. She was a standout soccer player who served on the student council. In addition, she cheered for the varsity football squad and was a member of the mock trial team.

After high school, Ally continued her education by studying cosmetology. She opened her own salon but had to close at the height of the COVID pandemic.

Fortunately, Ally is not only hard-working and energetic, but versatile as well. She quickly found a position at the newly-renamed and renovated Paupack Watering Hole just outside of Hawley.

For quite awhile, life seemed to be right back on track. Ally was thriving at her new job while earning high praise from colleagues and customers alike.

Late last March, though, Ally began experiencing severe abdominal pain and had to be taken to the local ER. There, doctors and nurses worked feverishly to relieve her symptoms and find out what was causing them.

She was quickly transferred to Geisinger, where two days of extensive testing revealed the dark truth. Ally had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer which attacks blood and bone marrow.

Over the course of the past 10 months, Ally has undergone a grueling treatment regimen including aggressive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

Late last week she received a call from Rowe asking if she’d be up to visiting her alma mater for a special presentation.

And so, Ally and her mom were on hand Wednesday morning at Honesdale High School to accept the check. It was presented by Hornet captains Peter Modrovsky, Joseph Taraschuk, Jack Eisele, Elyse Montgomery and Gillian Goldstein.

“It’s been a long, crazy journey,” Ally said. “And although I’m not feeling 100%, I am happy to say that I’m soaking up every moment I get at home with my family.

“I am very thankful to our community for their continued support. Thank you to the boys and girls basketball teams and everyone who was involved in the planning and collecting of the raffle baskets.”

Looking deeply

At least from a bodily standpoint, none of us is destined live forever. What lies beyond each of our last breaths is anyone’s guess.

What’s inarguable, though, is the amazing trade-off we make in the face of that knowledge. When we finally let go of the immortality syndrome, some amazing things rush in to fill the void.

Like peace and acceptance, the love of family and friends, and the whole-hearted support of your community.

Cancer can force you to embark on a long and painful journey, but it can't make you walk that path alone. Just ask Ally.

“It is incredibly heartwarming to receive so much positivity and so many prayers,” she said. “Knowing I have so much support really keeps me going. They say it takes a village when you have kids, but I’ve come to find out it also takes a village when you are diagnosed with an illness.”

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale cagers raise funds and awareness for local cancer patient