15th Annual Heather's Kup Planned For Oct. 28

Heather’s Kup and football have become simultaneous names among the circles in our area youth football world. Most players in the youth football programs anticipate the day when they can participate with the 5th/6th grade youth football teams at the annual Heather’s Kup held in October. These players look forward to the final tournament in the youth football season while helping to raise money to give back to their communities.

This year, the 15th annual Heather’s Kup will be held Oct. 28, 2023, and will feature 5th/6th grade football teams from Bedford, Berlin, Claysburg, Everett, Northern Bedford, Spring Cove, and Tussey Mountain. These teams will face off against each other in a double elimination tournament held at Chestnut Ridge Stadium. The exciting thing about this tournament is that it has a bigger impact on our area than just a football game. The heartbeat of this tournament is to remember two special young lives that loved football and to raise money to make an impact in our community by providing funds for children and families who are journeying through a medical hardship just as the tournament’s namesake did.

Heather Miller

In 2008 Heather Miller, a then sixth grade student at Chestnut Ridge, was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer occurring in the bones and surrounding soft tissue. Heather had a love for football, especially “her” Pittsburgh Steelers, but she had an even greater love for life itself, which shined through her in the lives she touched. Because of Heather’s love for football, Scott Pyshnik of Westmont and Lonnie Buttry of Chestnut Ridge developed the idea of Heather’s Cup in the fall of 2009, as a way to support Heather and her family.

The four-team tournament featuring 5th & 6th grade teams would vie for the Heather’s Cup championship title. As the first event developed over several weeks, Heather’s classmates and new friends rallied around her and her family. At the actual tournament, these supporters would begin what would soon become a tradition of the Prayer Circle where those in attendance formed a circle around Heather and her family to pray and show their love and support.

The group in attendance that day encircled the Chestnut Ridge high school football field. As this event progressed that year, Heather became well known locally as well as gaining national attention for her “Hershey’s Bar” smile and her never-ending attitude to F.R.O.G., an acronym that has lived on with Heather’s Kup and means Fully Rely On God.

On Jan. 29, 2010, just 3 short months after the community rallied on the football field, Heather was called home to gain her angel wings.

From “cup” to “kup”

Following Heather’s passing, it was decided that Heather’s Cup would continue and would become a support network and fund raiser for other local families experiencing medical hardships much like the journey of Heather and her family. For the first 11 years, Kai Burkett, a standout Chestnut Ridge athlete was involved in the event. Kai was raised in a closeknit family of 7 and always lived life to its fullest and emulated Heather’s moto of F.R.O.G (Fully Rely On God). One of Kai’s favorite years of being involved in Heather’s Cup was when he played with his classmates as a sixth grader in this tournament, forming his foundation to remain involved with the event in the future. As a player and as a community member, Kai always looked forward to this event and was always willing to help in whatever capacity he was needed.

On Aug. 28, 2020, Kai was in a tragic car accident and was called home to heaven.

Although Kai was gone, Hannah (Miller) Hutzell, Heather’s sister, wanted to ensure his memory lived on with her sister’s memory. The decision was made to change the “C” in Cup to a “K” to honor Kai at the tournament.

This year’s kup

Over the past several years, this event has continued to grow as several Cove families have received funds raised through Heather’s Kup to offset medical hardships they were experiencing.

Kick off of this year’s event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and games will continue throughout the day with a noon break for the annual Prayer Circle. The day will conclude with the championship football game being played at 7 p.m. on the stadium field and the presentation of the Heather’s Kup title following the game.

This fundraising event is free to attend and features a bake sale, fresh cut fries and concessions, F.R.O.G. apparel sales, along with a huge basket raffle. Over 100 donated baskets, many with unique themes and various goodies inside will be up for raffle on the day of the event. Raffle tickets are purchased at the event then deposited into buckets in front of each desired basket. At the conclusion of the event, winning tickets are drawn and winners notified. This has become a highly anticipated and large fundraising portion of Heather’s Kup and donations are always welcome.

The highlight of the day will be the Prayer Circle. During this time, everyone in attendance will gather around the perimeter of the field while recipients of this year’s tournament funds will be recognized in the center of the field and will be shown support and love by all those in attendance. Attendees listen to ”Heather’s Smile,” an original song written by local artist John Topper. At the close of the prayer circle, there will be a release of hundreds of green balloons in memory of Heather Miller, the bright young lady whose memory will always remain the center of Heather’s Kup, F.R.O.G, and the special green balloons, her favorite color.

Basket donations are being collected for Heather’s Kup until the day of the event. Cove residents can conveniently drop off their basket at Northern Bedford County Elementary. If anyone would like to volunteer, contribute, or donate to this event, please reach out to Aaron or Marci Burkett by phone at (814) 285-2975 or via email at airburkett@hotmail.com.