Gunner's courage to be honored

First ever Gunner’s
Magic Train Classic
coming to MCHS

By Jody Norwood
Tribune-Courier Sports Editor
jnorwood@tribunecourier.com

DRAFFENVILLE– An inspiration to many battling cancer will be honored Friday and Saturday night. The Gunner’s Magic Train Classic will be held at Marshall County High School in honor of Gunner Gillespie.

Gillespie was diagnosed with a diffused intrinsic pontine glioma in 2007 and lost his battle against the tumor last year at age 8. Gillespie’s story saddened the community, but his courage continues to inspire cancer survivors around the world.

The Gunner’s Magic Train Classic will honor Gillespie and help raise awareness about pediatric cancer. The two night event will feature Daviess County taking on Arnold, Fla., at 6 p.m., followed by the Marshals– coached by Gunner’s father, Gus Gillespie– taking on Lyon County at 7:30 p.m. The games will be reversed Saturday, with Lyon County and Arnold playing at 6 p.m. and Marshall County playing Daviess County at 7:30.

“Coach Gillespie and I have been planning this for a couple months now,” said Jeff Waters with WCBL. Working with Gus and his wife Janna, WCBL has helped organize the event.

Waters said WCBL had wanted to do something to help the Gillespie’s in their effort to raise awareness about pediatric cancer. Waters spoke with Gus about incorporating Gunner’s cause with what he hopes will become an annual basketball tribute.

A series of girls games were unable to be set in time due to scheduling conflicts.

“The schedules just didn’t work out,” Waters said. “We’re anticipating having a girls portion next year. We want to get the girls involved, but it just didn’t work out schedule wise.”

For more information on Gunner’s Magic Train Foundation, visit www.gunnersmagictrain.org or www.gunnergillespie.com.