Week Four holds a special place in the Mueller school calendar. While there is genuine excitement around the buying of beanies and a big build-up towards the BIG CHILL event on Friday, the week holds much greater significance as we remember the reason ‘why’ this week happens each year.
A key part of Beanies for Brain Cancer week is the Asher Memorial Basketball game, played between teachers and students. Asher was a fun-loving, energetic, loyal friend who enjoyed playing basketball and having fun with his mates. Sadly, in 2019, he lost his battle with brain cancer at age thirteen, a loss felt deeply by the Mueller school community. In and of itself the Asher Memorial basketball game is always an anticipated event, however this year held much more meaning as the student team, comprised of Asher’s closest mates, would have graduated alongside him at the end of the year. In a beautiful act of solidarity and mateship, the students overcame a second-half deficit to defeat the teacher team and, in doing so, celebrated and honoured their mate Asher once more.
Of added significance this year was the fact that Mark Hughes, founder of the Mark Hughes Foundation and Brain Cancer survivor, was present at Mueller to watch the game. His visit was a response to the generosity and kindness that Mueller students, families and staff have shown over the past four years in raising over twenty-seven thousand dollars towards the foundation.
Asher’s legacy lives on at Mueller, and each year it moves students, staff and families alike to contribute to a cause bigger than one’s self. Whether great or small, every contribution is significant and strengthens a community at Mueller that remembers and celebrates together.
Ben Stiller
