Two Cedar Falls tennis players organize tournament for Waukee student fighting cancer

Gage Miskimen
The Des Moines Register

Two Cedar Falls High School students have come together to organize a tennis tournament this weekend for a Waukee student diagnosed with cancer. 

Tennis players Krisha Keeran and Sid Kalala founded Club Kids for a Cause last year after a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.

When they heard that Waukee tennis player Steven Danna was diagnosed with cancer, they decided to host a fundraiser for cancer charities in the Des Moines area. 

"A couple of my friends from Des Moines are good friends with Steven," Keeran said. "Once we found out about Steven's situation, we knew we needed to help out."

Steven Danna was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his knee during the spring tennis season. Two students from Cedar Falls have organized a tennis tournament in his honor this weekend in Urbandale.

Danna, a member of the Waukee tennis team, dealt with an achy right knee during the spring tennis season, according to the tournament website. In May, he sought treatment after the knee began to swell. 

He was initially diagnosed with tendinitis and bursitis, but a follow-up determined he had osteosarcoma, a malignant bone tumor commonly found in people under 25. 

Throughout the diagnosis, Danna continued to play and win some of his toughest matches this spring. He finished his singles season 12-0 and played in singles and doubles competition at the state tennis tournament. 

In June, he had surgery at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital and began chemotherapy treatments. 

After two more chemotherapy treatments, Danna will have surgery in September to remove the tumor, followed by rebuilding his tibia and replacing his knee.

"Emotionally, he's doing well. He's a little bummed he's missing school, but physically, he's doing as well as he can," Cheri Danna said.

Waukee High School tennis player Steven Danna was diagnosed with a malignant bone tumor in May.

She said the family was touched when Keeran and Kalala reached out to propose the tournament.

"It means everything to us," Cheri Danna said. "Our family is on both sides of the country so we're the only ones here in Iowa. It's nice to have this tennis family supporting Steven."

The students' inaugural Club Kids for a Cause tournament raised nearly $9,000.

"We want Club Kids for a Cause to be something where anyone can create a fundraiser for people and things they care about," Keeran said. "We hope this is a trend people catch on to so more people can be helped."

This year's tournament for 12- to 18-year-old players takes place Saturday and Sunday at Lifetime Athletic in Urbandale. It is sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association. 

Keeran said they have already raised over $3,000 through player registrations. The money will go to three local Des Moines charities: Children's Cancer Connection, Pinky Swear Foundation and Above and Beyond Cancer.

"I've received a lot of cash donations, too," she said. "This year, we've also collected a lot of items for our silent auction."

Keeran, who finished last season with a 15-0 singles record and placed third in the Class 2A state doubles tournament with her younger sister, Mira, said she wanted to find a way to use her sports connections to make a difference for others. 

"I find that really rewarding," she said. "The ability to help others out in tough times. We were motivated to get it going."

Gage Miskimen is a news reporter mostly covering West Des Moines, Waukee, and Clive for the Register. Reach him at gmiskimen@dmreg.com or 515-284-8234. Follow him on Twitter @gagemisky

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