By Kris Leonhardt

Editor

MARSHFIELD — Rivals in the Cloverbelt Conference teamed up during a matchup between the Marshfield Columbus Catholic and Owen-Withee boys basketball teams Feb. 7 to raise funds for pediatric cancer.

The fundraiser, originally billed as the final date on a list that included stops at Owen-Withee, Colby, Loyal, Spencer, Greenwood, Granton, Neillsville, Gilman, and Columbus Catholic, was to be followed by an event in Spencer rescheduled due to a weather delay.

At halftime of the Feb. 7 Marshfield Columbus Catholic vs. Owen-Withee boys basketball game, Columbus student Zoe Stratman collected money during the Miracle Minute, which pitted two students from each grade level against each other in a race to earn the most money.

The Cloverbelt Conquers Cancer fundraising initiative was the vision of Columbus student Ryan Dieringer, who, along with Owen-Withee’s Will Maki, was diagnosed with a form of pediatric cancer last year.

The funds raised from the events are split equally between the Marshfield Clinic Oncology Department and the Maki family after Will recently lost his battle with osteosarcoma, a form of pediatric bone cancer.

Event activities included raffles, a blind auction, Warrior Wall, 50-50 raffle, and halftime games, which included a half-court shot contest for $5,000 sponsored by Forward Financial Bank.

Following the evening’s events, the Cloverbelt Conquers Cancer committee presented a check for $9,422.94 to the Marshfield Clinic Pediatric Oncology Department.

“The total that we announced on Tuesday night was $19,845.87,” said committee member Becky Dieringer. “We think as of (Feb. 9) we are at $20,415.75.”