Meghan’s Journey: The Story of Meghan Redenbach: The Teenage Girl Who Showed a Community How to “Man Up” in the Face of Cancer (23 page)

Part Nine: School and Community Support

“There ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you…”

—Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson

In Honor of Meghan

Almost every athletic team has honored Meghan is some way. There were t-shirts, teal uniform tops, ribbons and patches on arms, shoes, and sporting gear. On special days, for sports and the routine events of high school life, the color teal and a wide variety of t-shirts celebrating Meghan could be seen throughout the halls.

The Royalton-Hartland Girls Basketball Program had been cheering for Meghan right from the beginning of her ordeal. She had played on the junior varsity team as much as she could during her freshman year of high school in the winter of 2009. In the fall of 2010, varsity players spearheaded a t-shirt sale and helped to create the design that would become most closely associated with Meghan in the Roy-Hart community – the purple shirt with “MAN UP” and teal ribbon on the front, with a quote from Meg’s New Era essay on the back. The sale of this t-shirt would go on to raise thousands of dollars. Originally the money earned from the sale of these shirts helped with Meghan’s medical and related expenses; today it contributes to the charity set up in Meghan’s name.

The “Man Up” Shirt

Back of “Man Up” Shirt

For the Roy-Hart Homecoming pep rally of 2010, the Student Council sponsored a “Bald for Bucks” event for Meghan. Many students and faculty members had their heads shaved at the event which went on to raise almost four thousand dollars for Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Meghan working her magic!

Friends; teammates, and community members worked together to create a quilt of support for Meghan. (Mary’s Aunt) began the project with hopes that Meghan could envelop herself with the love that it represented. It was not finished in time but was hung at her funeral. Today it hangs in the Redenbach home.

Quilt of Love and Support

Frontier High School was so inspired by Meghan’s Story that her family was invited to speak about her at the school during an assembly. Mike, Nancy, Bethany Maclam, and Bill Holahan brought pictures and stories of Meghan to promote courage and kindness in others.

Mike Speaking to Frontier High School Students

Meghan had very close friends on the swim team, and their support was evident as athletes committed themselves to the “Man Up” mantra. Following Meghan’s passing, the team went on to fund- raise enough money for Make-A-Wish to send another family to Hawaii.

Donation in Meghan’s honor

Former swimmer and close friend Maron Brauer shaved her head for another Bald for Bucks event at Daemen College in honor of Meghan.

Maron

The Man Up sign on the wall of the Royalton-Hartland “Hall of Champions” leading to the gym serves as an inspiration to many athletes.

The banner representing Meghan’s retired number 3 volleyball jersey hangs in the gymnasium.

Meghan was a member of the Niagara Frontier Volleyball Club. She completed her try-outs the night before her emergency surgery prior to her diagnosis. Meghan made dozens of new friends and became part of the NFVB family. The club and its players also dedicated many games to her. Meghan’s NFVB jersey hangs in the lobby of the facility in West Seneca, New York.

Each year people of Western New York join together in their quest to raise money for Roswell Park Cancer Institute with the “Ride for Roswell” bicycling marathon and the American Cancer Society’s all-night “Relay for Life”. Meghan continues to inspire teams for both June events.