I was thinking the other day, while enjoying Thanksgiving with my family, just how much I have to be thankful for this holiday season.

After visiting Ashlyn Pope at Caraolinas Mediacal Center in Charlotte and having to wait to meet with her, I was subject to seeing countless teenagers and children moving about in the hallways, either going to or from treatment, and it made me realize that I have an awful lot to be thankful for this year.

First and foremost, I have my health, and my family, for the most part, is healthy.

The older I get, the most I appreciate good health. While I am on that subject, I want to commend two head coaches and countless students and supporters from West Caldwell and South Caldwell high schools.

Last week, both schools held a friendly competition in selling T-shirts to raise money for cancer awareness. The money raised with go to Catherine Peake as she continues her courageous battle against cancer.

It was a special sight to see the players from both varsity girls basketball teams and students come out to hug Peake and wish her well after she was presented with a check from the teams.

Also last week, Paula Pope, mother of Ashlyn Pope, could not stop talking about how much she appreciated all of the young people from Hibriten and the other Caldwell County schools who have come to visit Ashlyn, prayed for her, and have shown that young teenagers can also show everyone how big a heart they have at times.

These two situations made me think back to how it seems, in sports, much is made out of bad things or decisions athletes sometimes make.

Yes, those events are newsworthy and need to be described in the news, but I wanted to make sure readers of the News-Topic know about some of the good things student-athletes and students in general do in Caldwell County.

Pope was severely injured in an accident not of her making, and Peake was diagnosed with cancer not long after giving birth to her second child.

Peake and Pope have been dealt situations that no one deserves, but who ever said life would be easy -- or fair.

While I personally continue to keep them both and many others in my thoughts, it is refreshing to hear some good news associated with both of them.

I have never given up on young people, but is sure is nice to hear and see how young people have worked together to try and make a difference in two people's lives who probably could use the encouragement right now.

It makes me want to work harder to cover the events these young people participate in each week because 99 percent of them are trying to make a difference in their sports, but more important, in their community.

That should make everyone in Caldwell County proud.

Student-athletes, keep up the good work.