Tee off for Coach B

Instead of halos, Berry Borchardt’s angels come dressed in khakis and carry golf clubs.

People from around the community participated in a fundraiser golf tournament Saturday at Neuva Vista Golf Club in Midland for Borchardt. Borchardt was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia about a week before school started for the 2009-2010 Ector County Independent School District school year. Even though Borchardt is the girl’s golf coach at Odessa High School, that didn’t limit the support from other Permian Basin area coaches and players. Permian High School, Midland High School, Midland Lee High School, San Angelo Central High School, as well as other members of the community were all represented at the fundraiser.

“We’ve got 34 teams… There’s a lot of folks who care about him. The community has really come together,” Permian boys golf coach Shawn Mahan said. Mahan served as an organizer and emcee for the fundraiser.

Mahan said Borchardt’s condition is improving. He said that Borchardt has just gone through his third round of chemotherapy and doctors have found a bone marrow donor for him. Borchardt is currently in the hospital in Dallas. His wife Tracey Borchardt, who is the girls athletic coordinator at OHS, was with him.

Borchardt’s parents, Roy and Elwanda Borchardt, made the trip from Hale Center, Texas to show their support for the fundraiser and were amazed to find the amount of support for their son.

“It’s overwhelming, it’s awesome,” Elwanda Borchardt said. “It’s a very humbling experience.”

Elwanda and Roy said they were not prepared for their son to receive such a life-changing diagnosis.

“The wind was just knocked out of us. He was at home and was just fine. It just hits you right in the face,” Elwanda said.

Catie Wimberly is a freshman at Bowie Junior High School who plays on the varsity golf team at OHS for “Coach B.”

“I really, truly love him. If we have trouble, he always helps us through it,” Wimberly said. “He is a really nice, awesome coach.”

In addition to the entry fee for players, Mahan said there was a silent auction to raise funds for the Borchardt family. Virtually all money raised, aside from small prizes given to first and second place in the tournament, went to Borchardt and his family to help cover his medical costs. At the conclusion of the fundraiser, Mahan presented Elwanda, Roy and Borchardt’s father-in-law Joe Tighe with a check for $13, 141.03.

“We knew he was loved, but not like this,” Elwanda said. “We really appreciate this.”

Want to support Coach B?

>> What: Fundraiser at the Odessa Jackalopes hockey game.

>> When: 7:05 p.m. Oct. 27.

>> Where: Ector County Coliseum, 4201 Andrews Highway.

>> Berry Borchardt will be honored at the game and partial proceeds will go to cover medical expenses.