THE IMPACT OF MISD’S COLORS
FOR CARING INITIATIVE
F
or three years, Mansfield ISD has held Colors for Caring on the first Monday of each month during
the school year to show support to those who have been affected by cancer. The initiative to wear
cancer awareness colors on those designated days began after Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas
was successfully treated for his thymoma cancer and was overwhelmed by the support he received
through his medical journey. He then realized that encouragement is a necessary component in the
fight against cancer.
Many MISD students and staff members have since shared how Colors for Caring has touched their
lives. From those still battling cancer to those who have survived and are now supporting others in
the fight, these are the reasons why Colors for Caring is so impactful.
OVERCOMING CANCER
“It made me feel happy to see so many people
supporting me and wearing the shirt. I just want
to thank all of them and let them know that
everything they do means a lot to me,” Fulcher
explained.
Doctors cannot operate on the tumor because
of its location on her brain, but Fulcher’s
treatments have shrunk the tumor down to a
myopic size. She is now working on getting
her body movements back to where they were
before her diagnosis. The sophomore added that
she wants to encourage others with cancer to
keep the faith and stay positive no matter what
doctors say.
Fulcher (top middle) is manager of the
basketball team this school year.
S
ydnei Fulcher was excited to get her high
school basketball career started. As a
freshman, she was often leading the pack as
her team ran drills, but that all mysteriously
changed.
FIGHTING THE BATTLE AGAIN
“I started to notice that I was getting slower on
the court. That was weird for me. Then as I was
going down the stairs at home, my hand would
start to curl up on its own, and I was losing
some movement and control in my body,” the
Lake Ridge High School sophomore recalled.
After conducting several medical exams, doctors
found a cancerous tumor on her brain that
would further affect her speech and movement.
The Maberrys said they cannot thank
the community enough for the support.
Coach Stephani Gray noticed Fulcher’s condition
and wanted to do something that would show
how much the 15-year-old meant to the school.
“Smile for Sydnei” shirts were made in Fulcher’s
favorite color of yellow. The girls basketball
teams wore them on Colors for Caring days and
other special game days.
T
he emotional journey of battling cancer
began in January of 2018 for Mansfield High
School head football coach Daniel Maberry. He
went to the doctor because he was experiencing
a burning sensation in his legs and arms and
found out that he had late-stage lymphoma.
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M A NSFIELD ISD.O RG