Sounding Off:

In the 24 years I spent as a Daily Pilot sportswriter and editor, I had the privilege of getting to know several coaches and athletes in the Newport-Mesa community in a variety of sports. From the pros in the earlier years when the paper covered the Angels and Rams to the high schools, colleges and youth sports, I enjoyed witnessing a cornucopia of great athletic feats. But more important are the relationships with people.

High school student-athletes come and go. They graduate and move on. But many of the coaches remain in their positions after numerous years, even decades, because of their love for the game, as well as teaching and coaching. These are some of the greatest people on Earth — a faithful group of souls who have dedicated their careers to helping others, instilling quality values and serving as a moral compass for so many students in our wonderful community.

I write this on the heels of the recent “Battle of the Bay” boys’ volleyball match between Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar high schools, in which the two head coaches, Dan Glenn (Newport) and Steve Conti (CdM), combined forces on a fundraiser for our family. The “Battle of the Bay” turned into an epic night on and off the court in support of our 5-year-old son, Julian, in his long battle with brain cancer.

Words cannot describe how touched we are as a family. We are still in disbelief from the generous contributions of so many CdM and Newport volleyball families. My wife, Andrea, and I are humbled with more than $7,000 in donations to the Julian Dunn Cancer Fund, which was established to help defray medical costs after a tangerine-size brain tumor was removed in December.

Because of the radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Julian’s white blood cell count is extremely low (sometimes at zero). He’s frequently rushed to Children Hospital of Orange County because of the heightened sensitivity of his condition. A fever for Julian is life-threatening. He hasn’t eaten food since the first week of December (or BBT, before brain tumor).

His nutrition is given to him through a tube that goes in his nose and down to his stomach. The tube is taped to the side of his face and changed once a month. He also has two broviac tubes surgically placed in his chest (for medicines, chemo drugs and TPN). Doctors have given him an 85% chance of survival during and after the 55-week treatment program, which is better than the original 70% he was given.

Meanwhile, there are amazingly thoughtful and caring people in the community such as Conti and Glenn, both of whom are helping to change the world in more ways than one. Thank you so much for your incredible support.

Our prayers are that Julian will survive, make a full recovery and, maybe one day, enjoy the honor and privilege of learning under Conti or Glenn’s tutelage.

Thanks guys. And thank you Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar athletic departments.

RICHARD DUNN lives in Newport Beach.