BOYLE COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — After losing their cheerleading coach to cancer, Boyle County High School is seeing a huge show of support from some of their biggest rivals.
"It was just so awesome to see their players come over and present each of our cheerleaders with a rose," Boyle County Principal Mark Wade said.
The Mercer County Basketball Team personified class at a recent match-up with rival Boyle County.
"It was just a token of... 'hey we are empathizing with you, we're sympathetic to what's going on, and we care about you,' and that's just being great neighbors, " Wade said.
It is a gesture of love and comfort after the beloved cheerleading coach at Boyle County, Denise Young, passed away from cancer at the age of 37. She leaves behind her husband, two young children and a community in which she was cherished. Her husband described her as a great woman with an infectious personality who never met a stranger.
"She had developed great relationships with them, she was well known throughout the community, and she had a huge cheer squad because she wanted students involved, " Wade said of Denise Young.
It is scenes like the one with Mercer County that are now playing out at almost every game. From Danville to Pulaski County and Southwestern, all communities paying tribute in whatever way they can.
"We've had teams wear a certain color, we've had teams do moments of silence, " Wade said.
All of this a testament to the legacy Denise Young leaves behind and a powerful example for these young student athletes, that sometimes kindness is what can make the biggest difference of all.
"There's more than athletics, there's also just being a human being and caring about one another... and that's a huge lesson, " said Wade.
The family asked that In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are preferred to Knox and Landry Young College Fund c/o Farmers Bank PO Box 282 Perryville, Kentucky 40468 , the Denise Young BCHS Cheerleading Scholarship Fund or Heritage Hospice.
