Slippery Rock University cross country coach John Papa wanted to help - and Ken Link needed it.

A legally blind Butler resident, Link incurred flood damage to his basement recently after heavy rain spawned the remnants of Hurricane Ivan hit the area.

"We had five feet of water in our basement," Link said. "We got it pumped out, but the cleanup afterward was too much for us.

"I'm a diabetic and I'm on dialysis three days per week. I wasn't allowed to even go near that water," he added.

Link said his efforts to secure help were fruitless.

"I called everywhere I could think to call," he said. "Everybody was backed up."

Enter Papa, who heard that people in Butler were looking for assistance in flood cleanup.

"When you're involved in athletics, your life is like a blur, especially during the season," Papa said. "I had been thinking about those flood victims and wished there was something I could do to help.

"The next day, I heard there were people who needed help. I called CARE, a community service program on campus, and received Ken's name as someone who needed assistance."

Last Thursday at cross country practice, Papa asked his team for volunteers to assist him at Link's house.

"Eight hands went up," he said. "We have great kids on this team. If I needed more, I could have gotten more."

After competing in a Friday afternoon cross country meet at Duquesne University, Papa and eight members of his cross country team - Jake Moore, Raissa Weiss, Adam Smelko, Mark Morelli, Jess Peconi, Ashley Paul, Kayce James and Brian Damaska - headed to the Link residence Saturday morning.

"They got here at 8:50 a.m. wearing shorts and old clothes and went right to work," Link said. "They wouldn't let my wife and I do a thing."

The cross country contingent spent 2½ hours taking everything out of the basement, bagging garbage, and washing and scrubbing the floor and walls.

"Their shoes were caked in mud and it was filthy down there," Link said. "But not one of those kids complained. Not one."

The flood waters cost the Links canned goods, boxed food and Christmas decorations.

It restored their faith in youth and fellowship.

"Those kids were so polite, so kind," Link said. "They never asked for or expected a thing from us."

Papa said the Links were "very nice people who offered us food and water - they were very appreciative.

"They couldn't thank us enough. It feels good to help somebody who truly appreciates it."

By noon Saturday, the basement was clean and the cross country team was headed back to Slippery Rock.

"The last thing they told us was if we need anything else, just call and they'll come do it again," Link said.

"We're getting no relief money for the items we lost because our basement is not a living quarters. But we'll never forget what those kids did for us. Never."