fbpx

Local Communities Rally Around Beloved Volleyball Coach

Local Communities Rally Around Beloved Volleyball Coach
North Crowley Volleyball supported Coach Bruder and Crowley players with flowers and gifts | Image by Crowley High School Twitter

A beloved volleyball coach from Crowley is receiving an outpouring of support, not just from her hometown but from communities across North Texas.

Catherine Bruder is in her seventh and reportedly final season as head coach of the Crowley High School Lady Eagles volleyball team.

Bruder received a troubling prognosis from her doctor in May of 2021. “After a mammogram and a biopsy, it was confirmed as cancer,” Bruder said

But doctors told her they caught it early and that there was a survival rate of 95%. She went to a second doctor to have the tumor removed and was given the same news.

However, Bruder received a phone call soon after that would forever change her life. She had developed stage 4 breast cancer. It had spread to her liver, lungs, and bones.

Bruder said she was unprepared for the news because she was not experiencing any symptoms. “I was just always super tired, but what coach isn’t always super tired?” said Bruder.

She told a local news outlet her survival rate now is anywhere from six months to three years. Chemotherapy is her last resort, but she is taking medicine.

Bruder explained that when she was told about her diagnosis, she didn’t tell many people at first. “Emotionally, I had a really hard time, in the beginning, being able to talk about it at all, so not telling people became the easiest solution for me,” she explained.

But eventually, she told one of her assistant coaches, who asked Bruder to tell the team. She broke the news to the team at the end of the school year so they could process the information through the summer.

Since her diagnosis, Bruder has received support from the Crowley community and others, including the Burleson High School volleyball team, who started the hashtag Battle for Bruder (#BFB) and made shirts for all the athletes.

Multiple school districts, coaches, and parents have also gathered to support Bruder.

Weatherford volleyball organized the entire district 3-6A to have #team Bruder shirts made and donated all the proceeds to Bruder’s treatments.

Haltom City, Blum, Richland, Keller, and Centennial schools donated all pink-out proceeds as well. A “pink-out” is an event where participants creatively wear pink gear and accessories while fundraising for cancer charities.

Texas Christian University (TCU) honored Coach Bruder at their volleyball game.

“It has been overwhelming in a positive sense,” Bruder told The Dallas Express.

“I never expected or knew how supportive the volleyball and coaching community has been. It is truly remarkable and appreciated beyond anything I could have ever imagined,” Bruder told The Dallas Express.

Bruder is more than just a coach but a teacher as well, sharing important life lessons with her students.

“Live every moment to the fullest,” said Bruder. “Make sure you have your true priorities in place. Always make sure that people you care about know you care about them, and leave those behind that don’t bring positive energy.”

“I look at most situations as ‘it is what it is,’ so we can sit and mope about it, or we can just move through it, so we push through it,” Bruder continued.

Through adversity, trials, and tribulations, Bruder has maintained a positive attitude and continues to inspire her own children, her extended Crowley family, and the surrounding communities.

“Do what you feel is right for you. Bad days are okay, and people that are meant to be in your life for these moments will be there, and the ones that aren’t won’t,” said Bruder.

Coach Bruder would like to thank those who have supported her through this tough time in her life, including those who have given flowers, gifts, cards, and donations.

She specifically wanted to thank the following people and organizations: Brian Gosset, Glen rose volleyball, Blum volleyball, Burleson high school volleyball, Burleson centennial volleyball, Kerr middle school volleyball, Joshua high school football, Crowley baseball, and softball, Haltom high school volleyball, Richland high school volleyball, Birdville high school volleyball, Weatherford volleyball, LD bell volleyball, Paschal volleyball, Chisolm trail volleyball, Boswell volleyball, Euless trinity volleyball, North Crowley volleyball, North Crowley cheer, and TCU volleyball.

Support our non-profit journalism

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Continue reading on the app
Expand article