Wildcat boys rally to support local girl

KELLOGG –– The Wildcat community rallied around some of their own recently, when the Kellogg High School Boys Basketball team turned a busy weekend into what has become known as the “Live for Viv” Fundraiser.  

Last week, the Wildcat basketball players presented the Bourgard family with $5,826.95, all of which was raised through donations, 50/50 raffles, and t-shirt sales during the team’s back-to-back home games against Grangeville and Orofino. 

In January, two-year-old Vivian Bourgard was diagnosed with acute leukemia, forcing her parents to relocate her to Spokane, where they have been in and out of the Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital ever since.  

Vivian is the daughter of Eli and Lauren Bourgard, both of whom are deeply connected to the Kellogg School District, as graduates, athletes, teachers, and coaches. Many of the boys in the basketball program either had Eli as a teacher in elementary school or were coached by him in middle school.  

“You can say what you want about our valley, but they really circle the wagons when somebody needs something,” Eli said. “It’s cool to be a part of a community where that happens.” 

According to Eli, in January they noticed Vivian limping and took her to her pediatrician, who assumed that the limp was nothing more than a small injury sustained by a playful child. When the limp escalated to something more painful, they had bloodwork and other testing done to see what could be causing the little girl’s discomfort. The news they received was devastating, but according to her dad, her prognosis is good and they are hopeful that Vivian will make a full recovery, despite the long road ahead.  

Last Thursday, Eli, along with two of Vivian’s four siblings, stopped by Andrews Gymnasium where they were presented with their gifts, including presents for the boys and a gift basket that had been put together by the St. Maries Boys Basketball team.   

Eli addressed the team, highlighting how thankful he and his family were and acknowledging the work the boys were putting in, both on and off the court.  

“There are two types of people, there’s energy givers and energy takers. Watching you guys play, there’s a lot of energy givers,” Eli said. “You guys always bring juice. People who pay for tickets always get their money’s worth.  I think a lot of why this was so successful was because of you guys, because people want to get behind Kellogg boys basketball. It’s a special group.”  

As he wrapped up his message, he told the boys that what they accomplished shouldn’t be dismissed as just a simple good deed, but as representation of the support they have earned from the community they represent.  

“Appreciate the impact you have, because you guys are heroes,” Eli said. “This is just unbelievable and it’s huge for our family.”  

Kellogg Head Coach Mike Martin was taken aback by the support the fundraiser received, not because it wasn’t a worthy cause, but because it was put together in roughly a week, after a chance conversation between a handful of parents and members of his coaching staff.

“It’s pretty incredible to see the community come together like this. What the Bourgard’s are having to go through is unimaginable for most of us. Rarely do we get to reciprocate the support our community provides our program, so to get to be a part of giving back like this means a lot to us. To see all the work that Lisa, Nicole, Josh and our boys put in to make this what it was will leave a bigger mark than anything we accomplish on the basketball court.”  

The community support for the fundraiser highlighted how different schools may be rivals on the hardwood, but they are more than willing to unite off it for a noble cause. But Martin had no idea just how much support would come from the other communities.  

“We talk all the time about basketball being a vehicle for life lessons, and to see our guys working ticket sales combined with the support from the Orofino, Grangeville and St Maries communities is something that will stay with me forever,” Martin said. “It’s always bittersweet when this type of help is paired with such awful circumstances, but we’ll have the Bourgards and Vivian in our thoughts the rest of the way and I think this weekend helped show them that the entire Kellogg community is ready to fight.”  

The Wildcats finish each practice and game with a team break on the word family. Before Eli and his sons Asher and Harry left the gym, Martin invited them to join in.  

“This is what we always close out with because it means the most to us,” Martin said. “Once you’re a part of this, you’re a part no matter what. One... Two... Three... FAMILY!”  

It would be no surprise to anyone if there are a few more Bourgards in purple and gold down the road.

Kellogg Basketball would like to thank North Idaho Mining Apparel, Ali Koski with AHA! Creative, Cory and Nicole Lewis, Lisa Cheney, and the Kellogg Girls Basketball Program for facilitating and helping make the fundraiser a success.  

    Two-year-old Vivian Bourgard.