Pole Vault for a Cure continues its mission
Despite her impressive athletics resume — being a former Level 10 gymnast, a WPIAL AAA pole vault champion and Butler County record holder with the longest long jump in track and field — Aubrey Rock’s parents may be most proud of how she is such a loving and compassionate daughter.
Her mother, Michele Rock, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. Aubrey Rock, who was only eight years old and in third grade at the time, started selling “let’s kick cancer bracelets.”
“I had 33 rounds of radiation, and she always put a positive spin on everything,” Michele Rock said. “And as we get further and further away, it’s been important for us to see others help out, too.”
Several years later, she applied for and received a $1,000 grant, and now she’s a freshman at Westminster College, still preparing the annual event.
As years went on, Aubrey Rock’s efforts continued to grow. What started out as selling bracelets to raise money for patients battling cancer, turned into a bigger fundraising event: Pole Vault for a Cure. The money raised is donated to the Glimmer of Hope Foundation, which is based out of Pittsburgh and works to provide support to breast cancer patients.
Efforts by Aubrey Rock and others include designing T-shirts to sell and asking fellow volunteers to write encouraging notes to be shared with local women going through treatment for breast cancer.
“It’s amazing to see people come out for these types of events, to hear how this has touched them or somebody close to them,” Michele Rock said. “Knowing that so many people have a story like this, it’s helped our whole family feel supported.”
This past August, Pole Vault for a Cure raised more than $4,000.
“She’s incredible. With everything else she’s had going on ... she still wanted to do this,” Michele Rock said. “She plans to continue to do that for years to come. She plans to making it bigger each year and continue working with Glimmer of Hope. She just enjoys it so much.”
Recently, the event has been held at the Vault Shack, a local pole vaulting club with the help of coach Bradi Rhoades.
However, Rock said her daughter and Rhoades have talked about bringing the fundraising event to a bigger venue in Butler to have more people come and participate.
Michele Rock said she and her daughter have seen small acts of kindness others have given and believe they are what is going to “get us to a better place.”
“It’s something that is inspirational for us as a family,” Michele Rock said. “When we hear other people getting diagnosed, it gives us more of a purpose and a reason to do it again.”
