Two years ago, the community rallied to help Lu Kuhta in her fight against bone cancer.
She won that fight, and now hopes the community will rally to help provide scholarships for others.
The WolfPack AAU basketball program will host what they are calling the Lu Kuhta Scholarship Fund-raiser Friday Aug. 22. It’s a full circle, of sorts, for the now 15-year-old who has successfully recovered from a rare type of osteosarcoma, or bone cancer.
“All my cancer’s gone. Everything’s great,” Kuhta said. “It’s great to know that I inspired a lot of people,”
It’s uncertain how much the teen will do at the fundraiser golf outing. She may putt on a couple greens, but it seems her presence alone will mean a lot.
“Mr. Mellen is in charge,” she said with a smile. “I just do what he tells me.”
“Mr. Mellen” is WolfPack coach and tournament organizer Jack Mellen, who loves to sing the youth’s praises and also praises those who helped with the fund-raiser two years ago to help the family with medical expenses.
“Lu has always been a great athlete,” he said. “She was as good an athlete as I’d ever seen.”
Mellen tells of the origin of that unique first name. The teen’s real name is Laura, but she shortened it to “Lu” when applying for an all-boys hockey team.
When the cancer was diagnosed, it was the beginning of a hard road. In 2001 Kuhta required “radical surgery” involving the removal of the inside of her knee and replacement with metal. Eventually an infection required a virtual duplication of the surgery in February of this year.
“This girl has never complained,” Mellen said, despite more than 20 surgeries and chemotherapy. “She’s doing great.”
The first fund-raiser was an “outpouring” from the community, Mellen said. In addition to cash donations, came great raffle donations, including an autographed hockey stick from Detroit Red Wings great Gordie Howe.
The plan for this tourney is to raise money for scholarships for youths who have participated in the WolfPack program (designed for girls age 10 and up). Mellen said a majority of Clarkston High School’s varsity players were in the AAU program.
Kuhta’s future in athletics is still a bit uncertain, but she has already engaged in bicycling as part of her physical therapy. (She has regained an estimated 85 to 90 percent of her mobility.) Bicycling has special meaning now, as she recently received a hat from Tour d’France champion and fellow cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.
Golf and doubles tennis are possibilities for the comeback kid.
“The only thing I really can’t do is high impact sports,” she said. “I’m fine with that.”
That doesn’t mean her basketball talent will go to waste. Mellen said Kuhta may coach younger girls in the WolfPack program.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to try,” she said. “I’m going to give it a shot and see how I like it.”
Father Joe Kuhta gives credit to God and many friends for the progress his daughter has made.
“She could have lost a limb,” he said. “This was literally called ‘limb saving.”‘
Among those credited with her bounce back are therapist Ed Fahey (who made numerous home visits) and teacher Patty Hopcian (who also came to the home to help her through eighth grade).
Then there’s Mellen, who has continued his “coaching” off the court.
“There’s a couple guardian angels in this deal; he’s one,” Joe Kuhta said.
When she returned to school, Lu Kuhta jumped right in with activities, including student council, and she has a 3.97 grade point average going into her sophomore year.
“Lu’s a pretty humble kid,” her father said. “She doesn’t want to brag about any of her accomplishments.”
“I feel good that I can give back,” she said. “I’m not really giving anything, but I feel good how we’re going to be helping other people since all those people helped me so much.”
The WolfPack Open is a four-person golf scramble, with a shotgun start scheduled at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22 at Liberty Golf Club.
Cost is $85 per person ($340 per foursome). Registration deadline is Aug. 16, and there is space for only 38 teams.
Hole sponsorships are available for $50, and donations are being accepted for a raffle and the open.
For more information on the tournament, call Jack Mellen at (248) 623-2785 or Lou DiAntonio at (248) 922-3227.