Heights baseball team hosts walk to benefit beloved coach – The Killeen Daily Herald

Smiling faces were seen on the family and friends of Harker Heights High School teacher and coach Kye Robertson Saturday morning as his supporters participated in a “Strike Out Cancer” 5K walk.

The purpose of the event was to show support for Robertson as he battles two types of leukemia, and to raise funds for his medical bills.

Despite chilly, windy conditions, 158 people came out to attend the event.

“We love Coach Rob. He’s a real player’s coach and it’s just a different game without him,” said Jacob Mitchell, a senior at HHHS and member of the varsity baseball team for which Robertson is an assistant coach.

The baseball team organized the fundraiser in cooperation with the Harker Heights Parks and Recreation Department, making flyers and using social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter to their advantage.

“He has a huge heart and a lot of passion, he cares so much about his job, his players and the team,” said Justin Gordon, another of Robertson’s players. “If the same thing happened to any one of us, he would be next to us the whole time, so it’s only fair that we’re next to him.”

Robertson’s wife, Maci, stated that Kye is currently receiving treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Acute Lymphoma Leukemia at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston.

“Kye lives and breathes baseball, so it’s overwhelming to see the support for him here today,” she said, noting that he misses his students, being able to attend practice, and especially his own children, Kynzlee, 2, and Kolt, 4. “I just want to say thank you to everyone for the amazing family and community support.”

Maci said her husband first noticed something was wrong when he began experiencing back pain, which he initially thought was a herniated disc. That’s when they discovered a sarcoma (tumor).

Maci now divides her time between Houston during the week and seeing her kids, who are currently being cared for by their grandmother, on the weekends.

“It’s really tough on the family to be separated, but Kye’s had two rounds of chemo so far and the staff at MD Anderson are taking steps to have him undergo a stem-cell transplant mid-December,” she explained.

“His case is rare — the doctors tell us he is only one of 50 documented cases in the world — but they are very positive about the outcome.”

Robertson teaches special education classes at the high school in addition to coaching baseball and football.

“He is always happy and never in a bad mood, regardless of the situation,” said baseball player Andres McAdams. “It’s a different essence when he’s around — there’s never anything but good thoughts.”

A barbecue fundraiser and silent auction were also held Sunday for the coach at the Central Texas Home Builders Association in Heights.

Robertson’s support group can be found on Facebook under ‘Team Kye.’