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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Former players from these schools, and St. Vincent, where he coached girl\u2019s basketball, also came out to support Poyner and his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d Poyner said. \u201cI just appreciate the support of the other teams coming out to play and participate, the coaches that came out… \u201d<\/p>\n
Despite having ALS, Poyner continues to coach. While he\u2019s given up the JV responsibilities, Poyner still heads up the varsity program at Meadow Heights. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to be there as long as I can,\u201d Poyner said. \u201cThe big thing that\u2019s 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\u2019s been the biggest thing.\u201d<\/p>\n