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Andrews volleyball, football programs make Breast Cancer Awareness Month personal by helping one of its own

The athletics programs came together and donated money to custodian Olga Figueroa as she battles cancer.

ANDREWS, Texas — Every October, the color pink gets added to uniforms across the country. Breast Cancer Awareness games circled on calendars. 

"Everybody does the pink out thing. That's kind of something they do. I've just always thought, 'It's cool and if money goes to cancer awareness that's exciting. Maybe somewhere someone will be benefit from it,'" Andrews Head Volleyball Coach Ashley Dyches said. 

"When I found out that Olga was suffering from cancer, I was like, 'What if we make this personal," Dyches continued. 

The Andrews volleyball and football teams came together last week to help one of their own. 

"Before she got sick, you would see her and you would see a smile every single day. You couldn't tell if she was having a bad day," Andrews Head Football Coach Tom Harvey said. "It was always a good day, but you know she's a warrior. She's fighting through it, but not everyday is a good day when she's going through that, so it affects you because you don't see that smile on a daily basis and then you just seen pain."

Custodian Olga Figueroa has been sick for almost two years. She currently has breast and colon cancer. This is the second year in a row that Coach Dyches has chosen to honor this staple of the community. 

"I'm grateful that the love and the support they have given me," Figueroa said. "That means a lot to me because sometimes that's what you need. The support from the people that love you."

This hits closer to home for football coach Braden Martin. 

"About halfway through last year, I actually found out she was related to me," Martin said. "She was related to my father, so we're distant cousins. It was pretty cool to see that connection. It brought her even closer to me." 

"I thought it was awesome. We all know the battle that she's going through and just to see the support she's getting," Martin said. "No one can really know what's she's going through unless you've gone through that battle yourself. Just to know the hardships that come with all those medical bills and everything like that It's just a good feeling to know she's getting additional help." 

Special t-shirt sales turned into a check and showed how tight-knit the Andrews community truly is. 

"It's personal. You know when someone's hurt or someone's down, I think we can feel it," Dyches said. "When there's an opportunity to just have that community right behind you and pick you up. I think everybody is all about that."

"I want to give thanks to everyone that's been there for me. I'm grateful for everything they do," Figueroa said. 

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