Windsor Lady Owls reach out to Perryville girl

Haley Fulmer, an 8-year-old Perryville Elementary School students who has cancer, is surrounded by the Windsor Lady Owls and Perryville Lady Pirates players and coaches.

The competition between the Perryville Lady Pirates and the Windsor Lady Owls was fierce on the court. But at halftime, everyone was on the same team, supporting a Perryville girl who is battling leukemia.

Windsor Coach Andrea Haegele and her women's basketball team held a Pink Out Night on Feb. 9 to raise money for cancer research. That was the night that the Lady Owls would host the Perryville Lady Pirates.

"When Coach Haegele told me they were having their Pink Out Night, I told her I thought that was wonderful," PHS Coach Vicki Lohmann said. "I told her that my 8-year-old niece Haley has cancer. That's when Coach Haegele told me they'd like to make a donation to Haley. She said they were going to sell pink ribbons to raise money."

Haley has battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia since being diagnosed in November 2011. She is a third grader at Perryville Elementary School.

Game day came and Coach Lohmann and her Lady Pirates headed to Windsor. Haley, who is the daughter of Paul and Jennifer Fulmer of Perryville, attended the game with her family.

At halftime, the Lady Owls presented Haley with a $300 Visa gift card to spend on whatever she wants. Haley was overwhelmed by the gesture, and so was her family.

"This was such a kind and generous thing for the Windsor team to do, for a little girl they'd never even met," Lohmann said. "It was so touching, and means so much to Haley.

"Our entire family -- and our entire team and all of Perry County School District 32 -- is very grateful to Coach Haegele, the Lady Owls and the Windsor High School family. We can't thank them enough."