Maumelle H.S. Team Rallies Around Ailing Teammate
By: Adam Rodriguez
Updated: January 10, 2013
Chad Cox was his baseball team's ace closer; one of he best players at Maumelle High School.
But a few months ago Chad was diagnosed with cancer. Monday his team and community rallied around him, shaving their heads and raising money to show their support.
Maumelle senior Jacob Hollingsworth says they've got a decent baseball team this year.
"We're going to be good," Hollingsworth said. "Probably the best in the state."
But the Hornets' title hopes took a big hit in September Cox was diagnosed with Lymphoma, a form of cancer.
"Too much to say," Hollingsworth said when asked what he thought about his teammate. "He's probably the best kid on the team. The most likeable kid."
"I think he is one of the toughest young men I've met," echoed Mitchell Sparks, one of Chad's best friends. "Probably the best kid I know."
Sparks says the team rallied after Chad's diagnosis. They started wearing green bracelets and decided if their friend was going bald, they would, too.
"They all got together and just shared their concerns, and what they can do," said team mom Stephanie Hopkins.
Parents and coaches were a little "concerned" about how the boys would look if they buzzed their own hair, so Hopkins enrolled her friends at Sportclips who volunteered to take on these unruly locks. Buzz Cuts for a Cause was born.
Hollingsworth says they used to wonder why Chad got sick, but Sparks says now they know better.
"Because he's the toughest," Sparks said. "He can take it...God gives his toughest battles to his toughest warriors. He's obviously the strongest right now."
And if they can help their brother by shaving their heads, the Hornets are all in.
"I'm excited," Sparks said. "It don't matter to me. It'll grow back."
"I don't know what my (head) shape is," Hollingsworth offered. "It might be a little weird. I'm willing to make a sacrifice for Chad."
But a few months ago Chad was diagnosed with cancer. Monday his team and community rallied around him, shaving their heads and raising money to show their support.
Maumelle senior Jacob Hollingsworth says they've got a decent baseball team this year.
"We're going to be good," Hollingsworth said. "Probably the best in the state."
But the Hornets' title hopes took a big hit in September Cox was diagnosed with Lymphoma, a form of cancer.
"Too much to say," Hollingsworth said when asked what he thought about his teammate. "He's probably the best kid on the team. The most likeable kid."
"I think he is one of the toughest young men I've met," echoed Mitchell Sparks, one of Chad's best friends. "Probably the best kid I know."
Sparks says the team rallied after Chad's diagnosis. They started wearing green bracelets and decided if their friend was going bald, they would, too.
"They all got together and just shared their concerns, and what they can do," said team mom Stephanie Hopkins.
Parents and coaches were a little "concerned" about how the boys would look if they buzzed their own hair, so Hopkins enrolled her friends at Sportclips who volunteered to take on these unruly locks. Buzz Cuts for a Cause was born.
Hollingsworth says they used to wonder why Chad got sick, but Sparks says now they know better.
"Because he's the toughest," Sparks said. "He can take it...God gives his toughest battles to his toughest warriors. He's obviously the strongest right now."
And if they can help their brother by shaving their heads, the Hornets are all in.
"I'm excited," Sparks said. "It don't matter to me. It'll grow back."
"I don't know what my (head) shape is," Hollingsworth offered. "It might be a little weird. I'm willing to make a sacrifice for Chad."
