Gloria Dunetz was always a passionate mom when it came to watching her son Rick play basketball, soccer and other sports.
When Rick graduated from Robinson Secondary in 1998, she thought she had left her days of cheering for her son's team behind. Last fall, however, Dunetz found herself in the bleachers again, this time rooting for West Springfield High varsity girls volleyball teams, under circumstances she would have never though possible.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, Dunetz suffered a relapse of the disease in October, which sent her into a tail spin. "I was blind sided, and for about three weeks I was in a deep depression. I actually thought I was going to die," said Dunetz.
Gloria Dunetz credits her son's volleyball team with pulling her out of her depression. Now still battling the disease, but receiving a positive prognosis from her doctors, Gloria Dunetz has provided the inspiration for her son.
In January, Rick Dunetz started the Side Out Foundation, which will benefit Inova Cancer Services. He has also organized a volleyball tournament, which takes place June 4-5 at Lake Fairfax in Reston, and will benefit the foundation, and ultimately cancer services at Inova hospitals.
"This is certainly a unique idea ... and it comes from his personal passion, not just for the love of the sport, but for the love of his mother," said Beth Visioli, a spokesperson for Inova Cancer Services.
It was volleyball, according to both Rick and Gloria Dunetz, that provided the inspiration for her to begin the battle against the disease. In October, the same month when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Rick Dunetz had taken over as varsity volleyball coach at West Springfield, after head coach Cameron Meyer resigned. It was Rick Dunetz's first head coaching assignment, and he said he noticed his mother sinking into depression as he attempted to rally his team for a playoff run.
"My mom was in a very, very bad place when it came back. She was not in the 'let’s fight this' mode," said Rick Dunetz. "I was coaching these kids, and I was coaching my mom."
RICK DUNETZ said he noticed his team struggling with focus as IT approached the end of the regular season, and at one practice in particular, he let the girls on his team know they had to get their act together.
"I said ‘guys … you know how to play volleyball, you don’t need me to tell you how to play the game. All this stuff we’ve been dealing with, it has to do with the mental aspect of the game," said Rick Dunetz. "I said 'I’m going to be your support unit.'"
He also let them in on the situation involving his mother, and the team responded.
"These kids not only rallied around the cause not only of getting the team where we needed to go, but they rallied around me and understanding," said Rick Dunetz.
Gloria Dunetz became involved when she decided to attend a West Springfield playoff game against West Potomac High in late October. Rick Dunetz was surprised to see his mother in the stands.
"I thought my dad maybe would show up. I thought there wasn’t a chance in hell that my mom would come," he said.
West Springfield won that game, in a dramatic fashion that would characterize many of their playoff games last fall. Gloria Dunetz said she felt energized by watching the passion with which her son's team played.
"When I got there, it was like I was disease-free," she said. "I just completely forgot everything."
She continued to attend playoff games, and West Springfield continued to win. The team defeated Rick's alma mater, Robinson, to win the District title, then beat Madison in a dramatic five-game match in the Regional quarterfinals.
"It was like therapy to see all these young women with healthy bodies, able to do these things, it was just incredible to me. Almost through that, I snapped out of my depression," said Gloria Dunetz, who continues to receive a positive outlook from doctors.
Rick Dunetz said he hopes the tournament will not only raise money for breast cancer research, but will illustrate the need for more awareness among women of all ages.
"There’s something there, there’s a connection between the volleyball play and coaching young ladies who can be afflicted with this disease," he said.
Visioli said only a few other events in the Northern Virginia donate their entire proceeds to Inova Cancer Services, as Side Out is doing.
"I think it’s always special when we’re recognized for the work we do," she said. "There are so many different ways in life to find inspiration."
Gloria Dunetz has yet to undergo a chemotherapy treatment, and remains optimistic about the future.
"I turned the corner for some reason, and I don't know why, and I decided whatever life I have to live, I'm going to live it."