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On Saturday, April 11, UNC Women’s Basketball Coach Sylvia R. Hatchell hosted a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Blueberry Patch “work day” at her land in the North Carolina mountains, located between Black Mountain and Fairview.

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UNC Women’s Basketball Coach Sylvia Hatchell with supporters at her blueberry patch in the North Carolina mountains

On this land, Coach Hatchell keeps a blueberry patch with 250 blueberry bushes. All proceeds and collections from the patch go directly to UNC Lineberger, where Hatchell herself was treated for leukemia in 2013 and 2014.

Over 60 volunteers put out mulch, trimmed bushes, pulled weeds, mowed grass and performed various other jobs. “It was a beautiful day in the mountains where a wonderful group of people had fun working together to fight cancer, said Coach Hatchell. “It truly was a very special day.”

Blueberries are full of powerful antioxidants, vitamins C and K and dietary fiber, making them one of the American Institute for Cancer Research’s top foods that fight cancer.

Hatchell’s blueberry patch works on an honor system where people can pick blueberries for themselves and then mail payment directly to UNC Lineberger. The most recent funds from the blueberry patch are being used to renovate two exercise rooms at the N.C. Cancer Hospital, the clinical home of UNC Lineberger. Coach Hatchell greatly benefitted from exercise during her fight with leukemia, and wants other patients undergoing treatment to experience those same benefits from regular exercise.

Hatchell was grateful to all who came out to help prepare the patch, citing supporters from Montreat College, UNC-Asheville, Gastonia, Nesbitt United Methodist Church in Fairview, UNC Lineberger and UNC Health Care. After the work was completed, Coach Hatchell fed everyone a delicious lunch and rewarded everyone with a UNC Lineberger Blueberry Patch t-shirt.