Volley for the Cure raises a record amount for beloved school secretary

[October 16, 2015]  MOUNT PULASKI - Everybody loves Anna. Anna Beckers, the Mount Pulaski Grade School secretary who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, is shown here with her daughter, Alexandra, following the Lady Toppers win Thursday night over Riverton. Anna's husband, George, is also seen looking over her shoulder, trying to hold his emotion in check. Anna herself felt overwhelmed the minute she entered the gymnasium, feeling all the love and support not only from the Mount Pulaski community, but also from the visiting Riverton Lady Hawks and their fans.

Between the two communities a record number of $7,856.00 was raised for Anna, who is the mother of seven children and grandmother of six children. "It's touching just how much this community keeps giving and giving," said Anna following the Lady Toppers 25-19 and 25-16 win.

Coach Donna Dulle was also overwhelmed at the support shown by both communities, in particular Mount Pulaski, who has supported this 'Volley for the Cure' successfully for ten years running now. "The people of this community always amaze me. They come together to support one another and it just gives me goose bumps talking about it.

Our goal was to raise $5,000 for Anna," said Dulle. As always, Dulle managed to exceed her goals, as helping others is a specialty of this woman.

Incidentally, as Anna will face chemotherapy and radiation in her battle against breast cancer, her friend Dulle will be filling in as a substitute secretary for her. "I think that's great. She's donating her time for me. The kids all love her," Anna smiled.

Another close friend of Anna's, who was one of many to hug her following the game, is the guidance counselor, Melanie Hinson. Hinson moved here from Chicago two years ago and immediately fit in with the Beckers family. "Anna is one of the most giving and generous people I have ever met. She always worries about everyone else and wants to make sure everyone else is taken care of first. The way she loves her family and friends is beautiful," said Hinson. She continued, "Her and I were having one of our many conversations in the grade school office one day shortly after I had moved down here and I was talking about how I'm jealous of everyone who has their family down here with them and she just looked at me and said, "you do have family here, we are your family" and it was so genuine and sincere. That's what I love about her. She has this way of making everyone feel included and she always wants to make people happy."

On this night, it was all about Anna and showing her that people are not just behind her in this battle, but fighting the battle with her, too. "It's a scary thing but it's nice to have people praying for you and knowing that they are here," she said afterwards, with her voice wavering just a little.

Just how did Mount Pulaski and Riverton raise such a large amount of money on this night? For starters, students and teachers sold 50/50 raffle tickets leading up to the event. Students all the way from kindergarten thru seniors in high school also raised money to purchase large items and gathered gift cards to be auctioned off at a live auction which was conducted by Mike Maske. There was also a dinner, a bake sale, a silent auction and other games in the cafeteria. T-shirts were also sold to raise money and support Anna. In fact, the teams sported t-shirts that read, "I play for Anna" on the back.

And as always, countless businesses donated their products and services to the cause. There were so many items to keep track of that it was mind-blowing the time and effort involved, however, Donna Dulle and friends pulled off their most successful Volley for the Cure to date.

An added bonus this year was autographed team volleyballs that the crowd really enjoyed bidding on. The Riverton team ball sold for $225; while the Mount Pulaski team ball went for $425. Notable baked goods raking in big dough were a Donna Vaughan cake ($160), a cake by Emily Oxby ($170), a Peggy's Place cake ($110) and Helen Schmidt cookies ($100). If you know anything about baked goods in this community, then you know they are all identified by the person's name and one doesn't go without the other.

The TV donated by the junior class also went to the high bidder, Mary George of Lincoln, for $275. A wagon and a plastic farm animal set was purchased for $150 by Michelle Hagenbuch. Finally, yours truly won the final auction item, a fire pit, for $120. All in all a great evening for a good cause helping one fantastic lady. Now, like the front of the shirt says, "Win the Battle." We are all fighting with you, Anna!

[Teena Lowery]