Deerfield’s Attack on Disease Starts Thursday

athletic complex will be ground zero for fighting disease Thursday through Sunday with a pair of Warrior teams and taking up causes to promote awareness and raise money.

Targeted for defeat are Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) by the softball team Thursday, all types of cancer by the baseball team Saturday, and long cancer by the Breathe Deep Deerfield Sunday.

The Warrior softball team will be trying to strike out Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome as well as Maine East batters at 4:45 p.m. Thursday. Members of the squad will be carrying decorated cans around school Thursday with the message Strike Out CFIDS seeking donations. Donations can also be made at the game.

All Central Suburban League baseball games Saturday, including the contest between the Warriors and Maine South at 1:30 p.m., will be played to honor the memory of conference umpire Dave Pluda.

“He was planning to come out to the game but he didn’t make it,” Deerfield Athletic Director Robert Ruiz said of Pluda, who died Friday. “He didn’t want a big deal made. He just wanted to watch baseball.”

Pluda was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer last year and his fellow umpires started Umpires Strike Out Cancer to help fight the disease.

Breathe Deep Deerfield passed the $100,000 mark in donations Tuesday with 840 persons registered for the race, according to event coordinator Sue Bersh. She hopes for more than 1,000 people running the 5K race and 1-mile walk at the Adams Field track. She expects more money to be raised.

“I can’t tell you how good it makes me feel to live in a community where everyone has been so involved,” Bersh said. “I grew up here.” Students at Deerfield High School will be reaching out to their peers at lunch this week for additional participation.