The spirit of Brogan Raddish, who passed away in 2009 while barely a teenager, shines brightly in Monongah.

So does the Christmas street light at Brogan Raddish playground. Every night.

It’s on a Murray Energy pole with a photo-cell.

And the first phase of the Monongah playground improvements is only $4,500 short of the $20,500 cost.

Mayor Greg Vandetta said that phase one includes resurfacing the basketball court, 3 musical pieces of equipment and a sign language panel.

“A couple of grants, the town’s contribution and donations from businesses and citizens” came within $4,500 of paying for phase one, Greg reports.

He added:

 “Phase two will include an addition to the current play area and a piece of equipment geared to older children.

“Phase three will be replacement of the sand with rubber playground mulch. I still have a few places to apply to for funds to complete phase one.”

Brogan’s parents are Marcie Goush Raddish of Monongah and Mark Raddish of Fairmont.

Brogan’s grandmother, Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959, has conducted fundraising for a decade for the Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund for students in Monongah. Dietta is an assistant teacher at North Central Community Action. 

The kayak launch ramp will be installed within a month with assistance from Marion County Parks & Recreation. MCPR's executive director is Tony Michalski, Ramona’s son, and the guiding hand behind the assist to Monongah.

And young people from the Cross of Christ Church and Girl Scouts will be busy planting flowers in various Monongah sites.

Brogan was 14 when she passed away from Ewing's Sarcoma, a cancer which usually starts in the bone.

But her spirit lives on in Monongah at her playground next to the Rails and Trails by the Monongah town parking lot.

If you want to contribute to the Brogan scholarship fund, make out a check to:

Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund

 And mail it to:

Dietta Harden Goush

675 Cottage Street
Monongah, WV 26554

Brother holding Brogan

Brother and Brogan,
a beautiful story

The entire nation knows that Nick “Brother” Saban began the Nick’s Kids Foundation in 1998 to help children when he was at Michigan State and continued it as the Alabama football coach.

But few know that he gave special treatment to a Monongah child a decade or more ago with little fanfare and no publicity.

Brogan Raddish and her family do. And they are on “Brother’s” team forever.

The Alabama football coach, going for his 6^th national title against Clemson on Monday night, was in Marion County campaigning for his friend from over the hill from Carolina in Farmington, Joe Manchin.

Brother’s wife is Terry Constable Saban. Terry’s father and Paul Goush worked together in the mines for years and he put the kitchen in for Dietta Goush’s family. Paul’s wife, Linda, made Brogan a silk pillow case with her name monogrammed on it.



Brogan, Brother, Paul Goush

So Brother showed up and had his photo taken with Brogan and Paul Goush and again with just Brogan.

A later photo was taken when Brogan, about 13, opened a package from Brother at her home in Monongah. It was an autographed photo of Brother, a football signed by all the player and a sweatsuit from Alabama “which she wore proudly,” Dietta wrote.


Brother asked about Brogan at Terry's dad’s funeral and asked for our address and mailed the box to Brogan when he was told told that Brogan was no longer in remission.
 

Brogan's mother, Marcie Goush Raddish, has the items enclosed in glass today.

Brogan was only a few years old when Brother first visited her.

Brogan was 14 when she passed away from cancer – specifically Ewing's Sarcoma, which usually starts in the bone -- at the age of 14 in 2009. Her parents are Marcie Goush Raddish of Monongah and Mark Raddish of Fairmont.

Ever since, her grandmother, Dietta Goush, has conducted fundraising for the Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund for students in the town where Brother was quarterback of the 1968 Monongah High state championship football team.

Joe Manchin, by then West Virginia’s governor, spoke at Brogan’s funeral. His son, Joseph, Jr., sang “Amazing Grace.”

Brogan opening her gifts from Brother

Saban led the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship in 2003 and the Alabama Crimson Tide to BCS and AP national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, and the College Football Playoff championship in 2015.

He became the first coach in college football history to win a national championship with two different Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936.

If Alabama beats Clemson on Monday night, Brother will become a legend in college football, tying another legend, Paul "Bear" Bryant, with six national titles.

He already is a legend to Brogan’s family.

Dietta makes jewelry and other items in her Brogan Raddish Scholarship fundraising attempts. If you want to contribute, make out a check to:

Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund

And mail it to:

Dietta Harden Goush

675 Cottage Street
Monongah, WV 26554

I did. It was one of the best investments I have made, in students living in the place of my birth, on Walnut Street at Pike Street intersection in my Polish grandparents’ house because it was the Great Depression and families of multiple generations shared homes.

If you want to watch a heart-wrenching video, go to Dietta Harden Goush’s Facebook page and click on the URL for the White Hall Elementary dedication of a plaque in memory of Dietta’s granddaughter, Brogan Raddish, killed by cancer at the age of 14 in 2009.

Brogan fought the terrible disease for eight years.

Ever since, Dietta, Class of 1959, sells Paparazzi jewelry online and jewelry and T-shirts at various events for the Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund, which has reached $9,000.

At my request, Dietta provided more details:

“Brogan was just ready to enter kindergarten when the doctor told us she had Ewing's Sarcoma. She went to White Hall Elementary for five years through fourth grade. She loved that school and felt so safe there because they treated her like a student and friend not like a sick child.

“She had several home-bound teachers thru the years when she couldn't attend and always made the honor roll because she always wanted to learn.

“I presented the memorial plaque to the principal this week to hang in the hallway at the school that she loved so much. I have raised almost nine thousand dollars for scholarships in her memory and just presented the third thousand dollars last month to a senior going into pediatric nursing. Any other questions please pm me.  Thanks for doing this also.”

Dietta is an assistant teacher at North Central Community Action. 

Brogan’s parents, Marcie Goush Raddish of Monongah and Mark Raddish of Fairmont, were at the Brogan dedication.

Fairmont West High handles the money and writes the checks to the scholarship winners. Brogan was a freshman at Fairmont West in her final year of life.

The Brogan Camille Raddish playground is next to the Rails of Trails by the Monongah town parking lot.

Debby Morrison Harden, Class of 1966, is the widow of Dietta’s brother, Gary Harden, Class of 1964, who passed away in 2011.

If you want to join this remarkable cause, send your check, made out to

Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund

To

 

Dietta Harden Goush

675 Cottage Street
Monongah, WV 26554

I did. I am proud to be part of remembering Brogan.

Scroll down to article with this headline to see the Brogan Raddish story:

Childhood cancer is a battle that we MUST win!

Childhood cancer is a battle that we MUST win!

Chip Davis, Danny Wells and Arlos Smith visited Brogan Camille Raddish’s grave. On Brogan’s tombstone is written: “Some much love, so little time.”

That’s the title of the song they wrote that is sung by Nile “Big Daddy” Peaytt, a Fairmont country/pop singer whose Facebook page promotes the fight against childhood cancer. 

That’s what took Brogan’s life, at the age of 14 years, 5 months and 1 day on Nov. 23, 2009. Brogan fought the terrible disease for eight years.

You can see the video and hear the song by clicking on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-oXpERstAo

Taylor Filorimo, 16, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, passed away to the same childhood killer Sept. 5, 2012. Maria Coleman Filorimo is her mother. 

Peaytt put together a video, “Live 4 Tay (RIP Taylor Filorimo),” in her honor. Country music star Luke Bryan visited Taylor before she died.

Erin Griffin, 14, lost the same battle in Australia Sept. 1, 2014.

Lexy, 11, in Gladstone, Oregon, is alive . . . for now. But battling childhood cancer.

Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959, sells Paparazzi jewelry online and jewelry and T-shirts at various events with the money going into the Brogan Camille Goush Scholarship Fund, named after the granddaughter of Dietta and Paul Goush of Cottage Street, Monongah and Dave and Luann Raddish of Fairmont granddaughter.

Click on www.myfivedollarjewelry.com/scholarship for details about the Paparazzio jewelry. 

Dietta has raised nearly $8,000 for the Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund. The first $1,000 went to Brogan’s best friend who is attending Marshall University.

Fairmont West High handles the money and writes the checks to the scholarship winners.

If you want to join this remarkable cause, send your check, made out to

Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund

To Dietta Harden Goush

675 Cottage Street

Monongah, WV 26554

Go to Dietta Goush’s Facebook page to contact her about how to help fight childhood cancer.

Brogan was a freshman at Fairmont West in her final year of life.

Debby Morrison Harden, Class of 1966, is the widow of Dietta’s brother, Gary Harden, Class of 1964, who passed away in 2011.

Started In 1979 when dying 13-year old Katie Hageboeck of Wayzata, Minnesota donated money she saved to buy a 10-speed bike, Children’s Cancer Research Fund has invested $100 million in research of childhood cancers and blood-related disorders.

You can check out the charity at http://www.childrenscancer.org/

Bittersweet landscape

The Brogan Camille Raddish playground, next to the Rails of Trails by the Monongah town parking lot, is both heart-breaking and inspiring.

Brogan, granddaughter of Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959, passed away from bone cancer at age 14 on Nov. 23, 2009 after an eight-year battle.

Dietta has been fundraising for the Brogan Raddish Scholarship Fund ever since.

Dietta sells jewelry for the cause. Some of the Monongahfest money wound up in the scholarship fund.

Dietta is married to Paul Goush, Class of 1954. She is an assistant teacher at North Central Community Action.

Marcie Goush Raddish of Monongah and Mark Raddish of Fairmont are Brogan’s parents.

Brogan’s paternal grandparents are Dave and Luann Raddish of Fairmont.