Reeder hoping to bombard area with cancer awareness

The goal for "Put a Cap on Children's Cancer" is for as many teachers, students, businesses, and the community to wear a cap with our Children's Cancer West Ribbon on Sept. 30, just to create the awareness of the problem and raise funds for MD Anderson Sarcoma research. I want the picture of Dylan Widiker handing over a large check to M.D. Anderson so they can continue to search for a cure. There is no actual event (for Sept. 30)... yet.

In my thought process, I wanted to create a positive image of our community that could help change outside perspectives about the people of Magnolia.  Not many people are aware of how caring and big hearted the people in this town are.

Since I don't reside here yet, I am aware the news you hear on the outside is oten time negative. I am in the perspective-changing business with my players, in the way they perceive themselves.  But I also have to change the way others perceive them.

What better way to do that than to be a part of Something bigger than a game, or even yourself? Some students like math, others hate it with a passion.  It's the same thing with English, science and other subjects.  All of the students in my class have one thing in common, they love baseball.  So I have the pleasure of using the subject to help my students create successful habits they will have for the rest of their lives.

Some say that's what people tell you when they don't win games.  I want to win as bad as anybody, and we will win here.  But you have to have a plan and a process.  Then you have to trust your process and not get caught up in the things you can't control.

We can't control wins and lossess, but we can control our efforts and additudes.  If we have the best of both of these everyday, the rest will take care of itself.  And when we have a great attitude and exhibit great effort every single day, we have created a successful habit.  And what better way to get motivated everyday to create that habit than to be a part of something bigger than yourself.  We really want to play for those who can't.

Hopefully, this will turn into an event.  With more time to prepare and more people to help, who knows?

Russell Reeder is the head baseball coach for the Magnolia West High School Mustangs.  He has started an initiative called "Put a Cap on Children's Cancer," which is a fundraiser for research for Ewing's Sarcoma, which is a form of children's cancer that has affected current MWHS student, Dylan Widiker. ​

Published September 2009: Magnolia Potpourri (Houston Community Newspaper)