Mayor proclaims annual ‘ALS Week’ with Medicine Hat basketball teams

MHHS basketball players dawn purple jerseys in support of the ALS cause at Karen’s Purple Shirt Party, where the announcement was made by Clark.

Karen’s Purple Shirt Party is dedicated to Karen Wagenaar, who passed away from ALS in 2017. Courtesy/Facebook

KPSP has always been dedicated to Karen Wagenaar. Gerad Wagenaar, Karen’s son and JV Girls head coach, said that his mother didn’t miss a single basketball game of his when he attended the high school.

Gerad Wagenaar. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

He said that 2018 was when the first KPSP took place, a year after his mother had passed from ALS.

“We obviously didn’t have the purple jerseys yet or anything like that, but it just shows you how far this thing has come from year one to now,” he said.

“It’s just about raising awareness, and spreading awareness for ALS.”

Bella Leismeister, on the MHHS senior basketball team, said that it’s awesome to have everyone come together for one cause and support it like they do.

Bella Leismeister. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

“It just shows that being a student athlete is more than just the basketball,” she said.

“Everyone comes to purple shirt night. And even the teams we’re playing, they’ll wear their purple shirts. They always support,” she added.

Leismeister was one of the senior girls basketball team players who took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge, intended to promote awareness for the ALS disease and encourage donation toward its research.

Turner Sadlemyer, also on the senior basketball team, said that the cause helps the team feel like they’re contributing to something better than what they do every day otherwise.

Turner Sadlemyer. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

“To be honest, it motivates me a little bit more. And also we have more people coming out to the game than usual,” he said.

“Then it’s also like being able to play more selfless,” he said.

“It’s hard to be selfless all the time, but to be able to play selfless for a cause that’s above all, above your team even, it’s really good to play for that.”

Clark said that to have so many people come together for such an amazing cause is inspiring.

Mayor Linnsie Clark. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

She said the community came together independently to do something good.

“When our community puts its mind to something, things get done,” she said.

“To have it come from the grassroots, to have it come from the people who are affected, and their inspiration draws people who just want to help, and just want to be part of something good,” she added.

“I have the utmost respect for that, and it really reminds me that as a council, and as a city organization, we need to be led by groups like this.”

Wagenaar said that he could’ve never predicted when they started the party that a whole week would be dedicated to the cause.

“Who would have thought that eight years ago the mayor would be in the school, and all four teams would have purple jerseys and purple warm-ups, and the other teams are doing fundraisers for it,” he said.

Wagenaar said that it’s not just the City of Medicine Hat that participates.

He said that Lethbridge, Carson, Raymond, and McGrath are also involved.

“All these teams have done so much for us,” he said.

“I think the city of Medicine Hat does a great job of supporting not just big causes, but little causes too. They don’t have to be here doing this stuff, but they are.”

Wagenaar said that it is because the participants care for their community that they want to show their support for the fight against ALS.

— With files from Kevin Kyle

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Mayor proclaims annual ‘ALS Week’ with Medicine Hat basketball teams

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