BLADENBORO—The West Bladen High School volleyball team enjoyed a good year on the court, but their achievements off the court were outstanding.

        The West Bladen volleyball team recently presented a check for $3,000 to Kenneth Rust, representing the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill, in memory of Jude Mills.  Jude was 17 months old when he died of a rare genetic disorder and was the child of a West Bladen faculty member.

        The team sponsored bake sales, held a silent auction, sold half and half tickets and then sold Red Knight shirts to raise the money.  The team and fans were dressed in red at the volleyball match with rival East Bladen. East even donated $100 to the cause. 

        Rust is the owner of several McDonald’s restaurants in Robeson, Cumberland and Columbus Counties. He noted that the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill, the first of its kind in North Carolina, is going to be enlarged and a drive is underway to raise funds for that, and the donation will go to that fund.

        The Mills family stayed at the Chapel Hill Ronald McDonald House on several occasions while Jude was receiving treatment. Interestingly enough, the house is located on the same road as the offices of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

        Our thanks to West Bladen High School for the information and congratulations to this volleyball team.  We also acknowledge BladenOnLine.com for additional information.