Spring Break
Hester, Philadelphia legend Papale honored at Gala
Brett Fischer
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Sports
|
The six Philadelphia Division I coaches and their wives hosted the fifth Philadelphia Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall Gala April 12 in the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue.
The honorees for the event were Drexel's Hester, a member of the women's basketball team, and Vince Papale, the inspiration for the popular movie "Invincible."
"This is a remarkable story," Eric Zillmer, the Drexel athletic director said. "I think the bottom line is [Nicole] made everybody stronger around her and she's symbol of recovery and hope."
The Coaches vs. Cancer organization has a goal of raising $1 million throughout the year among all of its hosted events and surpassed the halfway point solely at the BasketBall Gala by raising over $500,000.
Two years ago, Hester found lumps on her neck, which turned out to be cancerous lymph nodes, and was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
She left Drexel to undergo radiation and chemotherapy, but it was uncertain if she would ever regain enough lung capacity to play basketball again.
But with tremendous support from friends, family and other Drexel peers, she did the unthinkable and was able to beat cancer.
"It's the best feeling I've had in my lifetime to recover from something like this and being able to share my love for basketball with my teammates again," Hester said.
Despite being honored at the Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall Gala, winning the V Foundation Comeback Award and the Colonial Athletic Association's John H. Randolph Inspiration Award, Hester remains humble and is modest about her miraculous recovery.
"I don't think I really did anything," Hester said. "I just feel like I did what anyone else would do. I'm just glad it worked out for the best."
Be the first to comment on this story