Basketball Coach Honored At Pink-Out Volleyball Game

Michelle Hasheider-Burianek is no stranger to facing a challenge.

She conquered a big one helping lead the Okawville Lady Rockets to its first state basketball championship in 1994 and becoming the school’s leading scorer. She met other challenges to recover from injuries and surgeries to return to play for the University of Colorado basketball team.

But now at age 42, the OHS Lady Rockets’ Basketball Coach is facing the challenge of her life – and one she didn’t seek. Her challenge is to survive aggressive breast cancer.

To Benefit The Coach

The basketball coach was honored at a “Pink Out” held at the Lady Rockets Volleyball game Thursday. Players and fans of both teams wore pink t-shirts for the event to coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For Okawville, it was an opportunity to show support for the coach/mother/wife.

Hasheider-Burianek addressed the crowd, saying that it is her faith and family that are getting her through this challenging time.  (See her speech in this week’s issue)

The volleyball team sold pink t-shirts and miniature pink volleyballs and had a bake sale to benefit the Hasheider-Burianek family. In addition, raffle tickets are being sold by the volleyball team for the prize of lottery tickets. The winner will be picked at the October 15 game. On October 16 another bake sale and a 50/50 drawing will be held.

Read her full story and the results of the Pink Out game in this week’s issue.