DELTA, Mo. (KFVS) – Despite an ALS Diagnosis, the facial expression of Meadow Heights boys basketball head coach Gary Poyner bears one distinct feature: a smile.
Several members of the community worked to put on the Gary Poyner Shootout, Saturday, a fundraiser to help coach Poyner and his family after his ALS diagnosis earlier in the year.
Around a dozen games of basketball featured most of the teams Poyner has coached during his 20+ years of coaching, including Meadow Heights, Leopold, Oak Ridge, Delta and Woodland.
Former players from these schools, and St. Vincent, where he coached girl’s basketball, also came out to support Poyner and his family.
“It was just neat to see several former players that I coached come back out today, to spend the day here, to come up and spend the day with me,” Poyner said. “I just appreciate the support of the other teams coming out to play and participate, the coaches that came out… ”
Despite having ALS, Poyner continues to coach. While he’s given up the JV responsibilities, Poyner still heads up the varsity program at Meadow Heights.
“My goal is to be there as long as I can,” Poyner said. “The big thing that’s kept me going with my team is just their support, the support of my players, the love of my players, of my parents, of the community, just people reaching out and wanting to help in several different ways. So that’s been the biggest thing.”
Poyner and his family have a GoFundMe to help support his treatment over the following weeks and months. But when asked about what he’d like the most, coach Poyner had this response.
“The number one thing would be prayers,” Poyner said. “Just the prayers for my family, prayers for myself. And something else is, reach out if there’s other people who have health issues. If there’s other people that need help, reach out in some way and support them in any way you can.”
Poyner will continue treatment and work toward starting the season with Meadow Heights in the next couple of months. For more updates on the coach, the Poyner family has set up a Facebook page as he continues fighting.
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