In a lot of ways, the Colonial League is like a big family.

When one member of that family senses that another could use help, they don't have to ask. Like a full-court press, help comes from all sides and it's not always easy to see it coming. It's happened many times in the past and it will no-doubt happen again in the future.

This year several members of the Colonial League got together to do whatever they could do help one of the league's longtime coaches.

At the preseason meeting for Wilson's girls basketball team, head coach Dennis Fry told his team for the first time that he had been diagnosed with cancer and would be going through treatment during the season.

Immediately after that meeting back on October 26, Warriors assistant coach Mark Seremula and the entire team decided to do what they could to show their support for their head coach.

They decided on some fundraising activities. The first was to have t-shirts made with the phrase "Tougher Than Cancer" printed on the front.

Seremula also emailed his friend Josh Kopp, the head coach of Wilson's top rival, Notre Dame (Green Pond).

Kopp contacted every coach in the league and asked if they would like to participate.

"Within 24 hours I heard back from all 12," said Kopp. "It was really a leaguewide effort.

"The Colonial League is a close-knit community. There's no nicer guy than Dennis. We just wanted to show our support for someone who had been involved in Wilson's basketball program."

Eleven out of the league's 13 teams had shirts made up in their own team colors and wore them for warm ups against Wilson.

Seremula and the players also held a fundraising dinner at a local Carrabas restaurant. Jaclyn Badman, Wilson's middle school coach and varsity assistant who is also a former Warriors player, came up with the idea of selling bracelets with the Tougher Than Cancer slogan on them.

Bangor head coach Bill Bisci not only had his team participate, but he also held his team's annual cancer awareness night fundraiser to benefit Fry.

"A lot of the teams went above and beyond," said Seremula.

For Fry and his immediate family, the outpouring of love and support from his Colonial League family has meant a great deal. He often attended practices and games after difficult days with doctors. Hours later he was in the gym doing what he loved with people who cared for him more than he had even realized.

"This entire experience has been a long and hard road," said Fry. "But the support from the Colonial League's athletic directors, coaches, players and families has been overwhelming."