The Second Annual Lu Kuhta Scholarship Golf Outing was a great success.We would like to thank all of our sponsors that made this event such a great success.We would also like to thank all the volunteers from Wolf Pack. Your generous support shows your commitment to your community and you are to be commended for that. THANK YOU!! To See Photos of Our outing Click Here For More Information On Lu Kuhta Click Here

Two years ago, the community rallied to help Lu Kuhta in her fight against bone cancer. She won that fight, and now hopes the community will rally to help provide scholarships for others.The wolfPack AAU basketball program will host what they are calling the Lu Kuhta Scholarship Fund-raiser Friday Aug.22. It's a full circle of sorts, for the now 15- year old who has now successfully recovered from a rare type of osteosarcoma, or bone cancer.
"All my cancer's gone. Everything's great," Kuhta said. "It's great to know that I inspired a lot of people,"It's uncertain how much the teen will do at the fundraiser golf outing. She may putt on a couple of greens,but it seems her presence alone will mean a lot.
"Mr. Mellen is in charge," she said with a smile. "I just do what he tells me." "Mr. Mellen" is Wolf Pack Director and Tournament organizer Jack Mellen, who loves to sing the youth's praises and also praises those who helped with the fundraiser two years ago to help the family with medical expenses.
"Lu has always been a great athlete," he said. "She was as good an athlete as I'd ever seen." Mellen tells of the origin of that unique first name. The teen's real name is Laura, but she shortened it to "Lu" when applying for an all boys hockey team.
When the cancer was diagnosed, it was the beggining of a hard road. In 2001 Kuhta required "radical surgery" involving the removal of the inside of her knee and replacement with metal. Eventually an infection required a virtual duplication of the surgery in February this year.
"This girl has never complained,"Mellen said, despite more than 20 surgeries and Chemotherapy. "She's doing great."
The first fundraiser was an "outpouring" from the community,Mellen said. In addition to cash donations, came great raffle donations, including an autographed hockey stick from Detroit Red Wings great Gordie Howe.
The plan for this Tourney is to raise money for scholarships for youths who have participated in the WolfPack program (designed for girls age 10 and up). Mellen said a majority of Clarkston High School's varsity players were in the AAU program.

Kuhta's future in athletics is still a bit uncertain, but she has already engaged in bicycling as part of her physical therapy. (She has regained an estimated 85 to 90 percent of her mobility.)Bicycling has special meaning now, as she has recently received a hat from Tour d'France champion and fellow cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

Golf and tennis are possibilities for the comeback kid. "the only thing I cant really do is high impact sports," she said. "I'm fine with that." That doesn't mean her basketball talent will go to waste. Mellen said Kuhta may coach younger girls in the WolfPack program.

",It's something I've always wanted to try,"she said. "I'm going to give it a shot and see how I like it."

Father Joe Kuhta gives credit to god and many friends for the progress his daughter has made."She could have lost a limb, he said "This was literally called limb saving."

Among those credited with her bounce back are therapist Ed Fahey (who made many home visits) and teacher Patty Hopican (who also came to the home to help her through the eighth grade).

Then there's Mellen, who has continued his "coaching" off the court."There's a couple of guardian angels in this deal; he's one," Joe Kuhta said.

When she returned to school, Lu Kuhta jumped right in with activities, including student council, and she has a 3.97 grade point average going into her sophomore year. "Lu's a pretty humble kid,' her father said. "She doesn't want to brag about any of her accomplishmets.

"I feel good that I can give back," she said. "I'm not really giving anything, but I feel good how we're going to be helping other people since all those people helped me so much." (article by Don Schelske Clarkston News)