Softball group plans spaghetti fundraiser for longtime coach suffering from kidney failure

When Gerald Horsley heard that his friend and fellow coach, Jeremy Dawson, needed a kidney, he wasted no time getting the word out.

The two men coach together on the Penn Hills Girls Softball Association’s 15U team. Horsley, president of the association, said he found out about Dawson’s Stage 5 kidney failure about two months ago.

At first, Horsley was adamant that Dawson, 35, of Monroeville wouldn’t see the field this year.

“There’s no keeping him off the field,” Horsley said. “It’s probably an escape for him, and who am I to take that away from him?”

As adamant as Horsley was about Dawson taking a break from coaching and getting the rest he needed, Dawson was just as passionate about continuing coaching. Horsley settled for checking in with Dawson to make sure he’s up for coaching during the days when they’re at the field.

“Mainly, it’s the girls,” Dawson said. “I need them as much as they need me, and (coaching) just makes things feel more normal.”

Dawson’s daughter has been playing for Penn Hills for the past six years, and he’s been coaching for the organization since she joined.

Dawson said he’s been trying to keep up with his normal activities to help him feel less sick. He doesn’t want to end up stuck at home.

The coach was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure at Stage 4 in 2023. He since has been told it progressed to Stage 5.

The condition runs in his family, Dawson said, adding he lost his father to covid after he contracted the virus while recovering from a kidney transplant.

“He was a great man,” Dawson said.

Dawson still is holding out hope for a donor and that he’ll return to full health again.

“I’m going to beat it,” he said.

After hearing the news, Horsley and the other board members immediately began to brainstorm ways to help. Using the board members’ connections in the community, they settled on a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Dawson hosted at Rolling Hills Church in Verona.

“Not only are we helping raise money, we’re trying to get the word out as well,” Horsley said.

Horsley is hoping potential donors will hear about Dawson’s condition and step up to the plate.

He said parents and board members are going to help cook the food for the dinner. The organization has already received pasta and sauce donations. The fundraiser is planned from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23.

“We picked that date before we even finished picking our games,” Horsley said. “Wednesday is in the middle of the week. People don’t always feel like cooking. Hopefully, they’ll want to come join us.”

Horsley described Dawson as selfless.

“He was adamant that he wanted to be out there,” Horsley said. “It shows his dedication, and it’s probably one of the reasons the girls are so successful.”

Dawson said he will keep rolling with the punches and adapting to the uncharted territory his condition has taken him.

“I’m just happy I have the members of the board to help me,” Dawson said. “It’s been a struggle to ask for help in this situation, but I’m thankful the members of the board are here to help me.”