‘Slam Cancer’ event has major goal

River Falls' high school sophomore Lily Burke plays basketball for the Wildcats. Her mom, Angie Burke, is a traveling nurse and now temporarily working in Rapid City, S.D.

Angie won't be there inperson to watch Lily play the rest of this season and you might think to yourself, 'That would kill me,' as a parent, but you'd be wrong.

As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Angie Burke was diagnosed with Stage 3 brain cancer in late spring of 2016. A year later, Angie also was diagnosed with breast cancer. She beat both.

There was a community fundraiser for the Burkes at Johnnies Bar to help the family out, as Angie couldn't work for quite a while. I remember Bo Hirstein playing live auctioneer. He personally knew the Burkes and that guy gave every ounce of energy he had in his role that night. He worked the live auction crowd the way Bluto inspired the Delta’s revenge in the movie “Animal House.” It was leadership in its truest, most entertaining form. It was not only a community hug to the Burkers, but a picture-perfect The picture I have tattooed in my brain from that night is of Bo Hirstein. With the microphone in his hand and sweat beading from his brow, his neck veins looked like cracks of lightning as bolts of his electric voice caused a frenzy of bidding. I felt like Lieutenant Dan in the movie 'Forrest Gump,' asking God if he thought this was a storm and calling for a showdown.

Angie Burke and her family were moved beyond words for the fundraiser, but another gift showed up in the mail shortly thereafter. It was unannounced and quiet. There were no electric veins, no live auctions, no celebrations, but make no mistake about it, it was the calming community hug everyone in our area receives when their family is dealing with cancer.

It was a monetary check from the Rhino's Foundation.

Rhino's is a volunteer organization named after former River Falls Wildcat Mike Prine, nicknamed Rhino, who passed away at age 22 from cancer in 1991. It's a local organization that began with a few softball tournament fundraisers and morphed into an annual golf tournament. The mission is simple and the process is easy. If you know a family in our area dealing with cancer, contact Rhino's and they will help.

'The more people we help,' said Rhino's board member Amy Jenkins, 'The more people spread the word.'

It's community grassroots giving and it's been exploding the past couple years because of high school athletics.

'Hudson High School Athletics have been phenomenal,' said Jenkins.

The Raider Athletic program raised $13,238 for Rhino's last year. Rhino's gifted about $60,000 to local families last year.

'Whatever money we get, we give out,' said Jenkins.

Mike Prine, the original 'Rhino,' played football for River Falls and the organization is based in River Falls. Jenkins and the Rhino's board thought it was time to have the Wildcat sports teams involved and see if they can muster up the same Hudson Raider magic.

'This is going to be an ongoing thing,' said Jenkins, 'And we're starting with the Wildcat girls and boys basketball teams.'

Jenkins contacted Cheryl Schwantz and Lori Johnson, respective girls and boys basketball parents. Schwantz is also a River Falls Athletic Booster Club Board member.

The event is called 'Slam Cancer' and the boys' game is Friday, Feb. 11. The girls' game will be Saturday, Feb. 12. Both games will tip-off at 7:15 p.m.

Student themes for games is kind of the 'cool thing' now and both games will have the 'Pink Out' theme. T-shirts will be sold, along with pink glow sticks, necklaces, and chances to hit half-court shots for anyone in attendance after the game.

The Wildcat girls' game against Menomonie on Saturday may be a little extra-special with Lily Burke on the court for the Wildcats and her mom, Angie, watching the live broadcast from South Dakota working in a hospital.

Every girls basketball player in the game is making a card to show who they're playing for on Saturday night.

Lily Burke's nickname is 'Pick Six' and it's not too hard to guess who she picked.

'I'm playing for my mom,' said Lilly Burke, 'And I think we're all going to play extrahard Saturday night.'

'It'll be a little emotional,' said Angie, 'But I'm glad we can give back to Rhino's because they're awesome.'

It's time to 'Slam Cancer' and come out for a Rhino's community hug this weekend. Rumor has it Bo Hirstein will be there. Rumor also has it Hirstein wants to beat the annual Hudson Raider giving amount. It has not been confirmed, however, if Hirstein will be wearing an 'Animal House' Bluto pink toga costume.

Editor's note: Welcome to

the first edition of River Falls resident Greg Peters' "Horseplay and Heroes" column. Peters is an enthusiastic sports fan, dad to three girls, Groupers' member, River Falls Baseball Council president and storyteller. He takes great pride in cheering on those in his community.

HORSEPLAY

& Heroes

BY GREG PETERS