Thank you for publishing the article on Dr. Bruce Churchill and his on-going battle with the neuromuscular disease ALS. While many people know Dr. Churchill as a wonderful physician, my family knows him best as “Coach Church.” Our daughter Michaela met Coach Church while playing middle school volleyball and has been fortunate enough to be coached by him and Coach Hasch for the past four years. He is the coach; always encouraging, always pushing the girls to excel, always loving to talk about any and all aspects of the game. He is the physician; encouraging good nutrition, stretching, inspecting injuries. He is the task master; running drills, working one-on-one, the yin to Coach Hasch’s yang. He is the father; both to his own daughters (his youngest Leah is a senior player on the varsity), and to all the girl’s on “his” team; checking up on how each one is doing off the court as well as on it. He is each player’s biggest fan; loud, exuberant, proud. Most importantly, Coach Church is an incredible person and role model. He teaches life skills not just volleyball skills. The grace and dignity he and his family have shown since his diagnosis with this terrible illness is heroic.

We will walk in his honor this Saturday, Sept. 12, with the hope that this year a medical breakthrough with help slow or end the progression of this fatal disease. Please join us and the rest of the Greely girl’s volleyball team in support of our Coach Church.

Karen Campbell
Cumberland

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