Team Blake: Allen Park rallies against cystic fibrosis

ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The first thing you see when you walk into Allen Park High School is a table dedicated to Blake Bowman, a 9th grader who passed away a week and a half ago.

The condolence book's messages, written by his classmates, will melt you heart. One says, "Fly high little buddy." Another one reads, "I hope you're dancing in heaven and all the pain is gone."

"Blake was always so upbeat, and he never let his condition slow him down," said Ken Stephens, assistant principal at the high school.

Stephens said the student body is grieving, but even before Blake lost his battle with cystic fibrosis the community rallied around him and his family.

"Early this year when Blake became sick, we started thinking of what can we do to help the family out," Stephens said. "We wanted to help with the medical costs above and beyond what the insurance would pay for.'

So they held fundraisers and sold wristbands. They also came up with the idea to sell Team Blake T-shirts.

The support for the Bowman family is not confined to walls of the high school, the whole Allen Park community stepped up in a big way. Purple ribbons line the streets of Allen Road, Team Blake Signs show in most store fronts.

"It's nice to work in a community where when things happen, you can count on everyone coming together," Nick Bockel, owner of Park Athletic Supply, a local sports goods store, said.

Next Wednesday, the police and fire departments plan to play a charity hockey game against the high school team. Park Athletic Supply is donating all of the jerseys.

"The jerseys say team Blake on the front, and all of them have the name Bowman on the back," Bockel said.

**The game is Wednesday, February 4th from 8-10 PM at the Allen Park Civic Center. Donations will be accepted at the door. All donations will proceeds will benefit the Bowman family**


About the Author:

Jamie anchors sports coverage on Local 4 News Saturdays at 6 & 11 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m., in addition to hosting Sports Final Edition.