EXETER >> Over the past several years, Derek Evans has been all about making a stand – even when his body has rejected him.
And in a couple of months, he and some of his closest friends will make a stand together.
Nearly nine years after he was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Evans and the Team Island Pizza softball team will host their second annual charity softball tournament on Saturday, September 9 at Linfield Sports Park in Limerick.
Last year’s tournament benefitted the Four Diamonds Fund. This year’s event, however, will hit a little bit closer to home for Evans, as all proceeds will go toward the Standing Up to POTS Organization.
“We’ve all been friends since we graduated from Exeter in 2009,” said Evans of Team Island Pizza. “They’ve been with me every step of the way and they definitely know how much this means to me.”
According to WebMD, a person diagnosed with POTS has a fast heart rate that starts after standing up. This can happen suddenly or take as long as 10 minutes after standing. With POTS, the body does not control blood pressure or heart rate as it should after standing. So for a brief time, enough blood does not circulate to the brain. This can lead to dizziness or light-headedness. It may also lead to fainting.
POTS is estimated to impact between 1,000,000 and 3,000,000 Americans.
Evans had his first bout with POTS during his junior year at Exeter. While working as a branch manager at a car rental, he started to experience fatigue and dizziness symptoms. Next thing he knew, he’d passed out while on a sales call.
From there, he was told that he had POTS, a diagnosis that would force him to quit his job and give up his role as a starter on the Exeter boys volleyball team.
“I tried to hide it for the longest time. I’d make excuses for why I couldn’t do something,” recalled Evans. “It was a depressing and frustrating time for me. It felt like my body was working against me.”
During the darkest days after he was forced to quit his job, Evans found solace in writing. What started out as therapy became a hobby – and Evans eventually turned his writings into a book.
‘So Close to Death, Yet So Far Away’ talks about his journey after being diagnosed with POTS. It was a commitment that he says has enabled him to stand where he is now.
“I found a way to turn my venting into something useful and powerful,” he said.
Evans and Team Island Pizza compete in the Exeter Softball League. After going winless during their first season in the league, the Pink Panthers seemed to have found their mojo the past few seasons.
“We started out 0-32 our first year, didn’t win a single game,” recalled Evans. “We came into the league thinking ‘Old people playing slow-pitch softball, how hard can it be?’
“We didn’t realize how serious everyone took it. We were in for a big surprise.”
Last season, Island Pizza went 20-12, a huge testament to where they had started.
Due to his health concerns, Evans can only play sparingly. In times of need, he’ll step behind the plate as catcher or even sometimes out into right field.
“Any time I’m out there, I’m hoping that no one hits one out to me,” he said with a laugh, “but my job is mainly to coach the guys. I write the lineup and tell them where to play. It’s exciting and fun to see our guys win.”
* * *In addition to the charity softball tournament, the day will also feature raffle prizes from several local venues including the Philadelphia Flyers, the Reading Fightin’ Phils, Sly Fox Brewery in Pottstown among plenty more. There will also be a local disc jockey and plenty of food and drinks on site throughout the day.
Registration to play in the tournament ends Thursday, August 24. Those interested in competing should contact Derek Evans at derekchadevans@gmail.com or call (610) 790-3306.
