Dorman\'s Buffo Designs Special \"Hannah\'s Hope\" Singlet

Dorman senior Stephanie Buffo added another purpose during her presence at the Footlocker South Regional Saturday in Charlotte.

Buffo, an individual, that has been a leader for the Cavaliers and other runners around the state, designed a yellow singlet specifically for Footlocker in memory of friend Hannah Sobeski, mentioning "I got alot of compliments on it and alot of the people that went with the Dorman team wanted one also," said Buffo. "People can certainly make them on their own out of a yellow jersey, puff paints, and my design to help spread God's Word! I made the singlet by myself and made the design by myself as well. We still kept to be pretty good friends through our so many chorus classes together."

Stephanie Buffo wears her "Hannah's Hope" singlet at Footlocker South Saturday. Left, is the back of the singlet.

Sobeski, born Sept. 12, 1988, a friend of Buffo's since first grade, was diagnosed with round-cell sarcoma in May 2006. When scrunners.com contacted Buffo about the importance of the singlet worn at Footlocker South, she responded, "I would be glad to answer your questions about my singlet because the more media we involve and tell about Hannah Sobeski's story, the more people will understand her remarkable journey and her guidance of so many people to know the Lord Jesus Christ better!"

"The quote on the singlet "Carrying the Torch" of course symbolizes what her challenge to so many people is, to proclaim the Word of Christ and His awesome power and greatness to as many people as you can; just as she lights the torch of the Lord, we must pick it up and "run with it." The torch is designed as a beautiful cross as the holder and a magnificant flame to symbolize what we must carry and spread (if you notice the right side of the flame has a women's face in it-Hannah for she lit the torch). The quote at the bottom is what Uncle Clay (Hannah's uncle) said at her "Celebration of Life" - "May we never be the same" because we now have a true purpose ahead of us and we will never be like we were before Hannah's journey started in May. Of course, the bottom (singlet) says "In Loving memory of Hannah Sobeski" because though she is no longer on the earth with us, she is in Heaven rejoicing with God, the Father. And finally, Psalm 121:1-2 says "I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the make of heaven and earth." This was Hannah's scripture throughtout the journey and it seemed to touch a place in my heart."

"She was diagnosed with round-celled sarcoma in May of 2006 and went through so many treatments of so many kinds to try to cure her," said Buffo. "But God had another plan for her - to spread the Word of God through her illness and trust in the Lord. She went on to Heaven on Nov. 9, 2006."

Buffo, entered in the junior-senior girls race, said, "While wearing the jersey, all I really wanted to do was to wear it all day so that people took notice of it and asked questions so that I could have another chance to tell Hannah's story. I felt like Hannah was beside me, reminding me that it is only a race and the more important thing on this day is that I am spreading God's Word and Hannah's story to so many people."

Buffo placed 114th in the 5,000-meter race in 21:15.

"She was such a strong Christian young lady and made such an impact on my life and thousands of people's lives that I know that I was challenged to carry the torch that she placed in people and so I thought that by wearing this jersey that people would certainly notice by the bright yellow running jersey to symbolize her bright impact on so many people's lives."

Read more about Sobeski and what Buffo says, "she has done to so many lives" at caringbridge.org.