Fundraiser Set For November 19 to Help Former Student-Athlete

UB community raising money to help former men's soccer player in his battle against cancer

BUFFALO, NY - On Wednesday, November 19, University at Buffalo students, athletes, faculty and friends will gather together at The Steer (3151 Main Street) to help one of their own in his battle against cancer. The event will be the culmination of efforts to help raise money for the Kevin Pitra Fund, a fund recently started to support current graduate student and former men's soccer player Kevin Pitra (Solon, OH/Solon), who was diagnosed with melanoma last spring.

Kevin Pitra

Pitra was a four-year letterwinner on UB's men's soccer team, serving as team captain as a senior and graduating with honors with a degree in sociology in 2002. Pitra is currently in his second year of graduate school at UB, working towards his master's degree in higher education administration. He has undergone surgery and is now receiving Interferon-A chemotherapy, a very intense and expensive treatment. Through it all, Pitra is still attending classes and working as a graduate assistant in the Graduate School of Education. He has medical insurance through the Graduate Student Association, but the prescription drug plan covers only a small portion of his drug expenses, which means he will have uninsured bills in excess of $45,000 this year. Because of this, Buffalo's men's soccer team and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) decided it was time to step in and help out.

"He needs as much help as we can offer," said SAAC president Sara Sheffer (Ft. Edward, NY/Colonie), a member of Buffalo's crew team. "Kevin is one of our own, and one of the best things about UB's Division of Athletics is that we really are like a family, and each team is doing some of their own fundraising for his benefit."

Pitra served as vice-president of SAAC while a member of the men's soccer team, and he was the team's Most Valuable Player and a third-team All-Region selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association as a senior in 2001. He also went on to play professionally with the St. Catharines Roma Wolves of the Canadian Premier Soccer League.

"Kevin was outstanding in college," said John Astudillo, head men's soccer coach at UB. "He was a great captain and a great defender who worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the field. Kevin was one of three players in the Mid-American Conference who turned pro in 2002. I wish I could have more players like him. He was one of the best defenders we've ever had here at UB."

The November 19 event at The Steer will run from 7 pm until 10 pm and include complimentary food, an auction and a split-club drawing. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for students with all proceeds going to the Kevin Pitra Fund.

"The real tragedy is that Kevin is so young and so healthy," said Sheffer. "Most people our age assume that cancer is not an issue until later on in life, but that obviously isn't the case. If we can both alleviate some of Kevin's financial burden while educating people about cancer, its causes and possible preventions, then this will be a successful project." Sheffer and the members of SAAC are hoping to continue their efforts to support Pitra as a long-term project as the need arises.

The Kevin Pitra Fund is being managed by the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University at Buffalo. Monetary donations in the name of the Kevin Pitra Fund and donations for the auction can be given to Kellie Peiper, UB's Student-Athlete Services Coordinator (645-6472, kpeiper@buffalo.edu).

- Written by Tiona D. Hill, UB Athletic Communications Intern

11/17/2003