Fund-raiser to aid cancer battle

Rossford junior diagnosed shortly after season ended

12/14/2013

Rossford senior offensive lineman Josh Maas always stepped up for his teammates, and now others in the community are stepping up to help the young football player who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Maas, a three-year letter winner at offensive guard, was diagnosed with testicular cancer shortly after the season ended.

A spaghetti dinner and auction will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday to help offset the costs of Maas' treatments and medical bills. It will be held at the IBEW Local Union 245 at 705 Lime City Road in Rossford.

“Josh is a very quiet and unassuming kid,” Rossford coach Todd Drusback said. “He very much thinks of others first. He definitely has taken that approach with fighting the disease. His teammates and friends respect him for that.”

Maas felt chest pains on Nov. 16 and went to the emergency room. He was later diagnosed with cancer, which has spread to his lungs and liver. He started chemotherapy treatments in mid-November.

Tickets to the dinner are $10 for adults and children age 10 and older and $5 for children. There also will be auctions. An autographed Miguel Cabrera bat is among the items.

Maas is the second player Drusback has had stricken with cancer. In April, 2012, Kerry Keller was a junior when he lost his battle with a rare type of cancer that affected the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

“Each situation is different. Josh is feeling a lot of different emotions. I can only imagine what he is going through,” Drusback said. “He's staying positive. We talk about faith and we use that term a lot amongst our football guys. We're confident he can beat this thing.”