India Lewis arrived back in Siloam Springs with a police escort and a big crowd waiting to see her.
The former Siloam Springs multi-sport star and Arkansas women's basketball player was back in town for a few hours Friday to thank her friends, family and supporters in a benefit organized on her behalf on the back patio area of Creekside Taproom.
Lewis was recently diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and has been in Tulsa, Okla., the last several weeks receiving treatment.
Food trucks and businesses helped organize the event, headed up by the Purple Banana, Big Chief BBQ, the Wooden Wagon Luncheonette and Pure Joy Ice Cream. Also Pig Trail Clothing helped with T-shirts.
As the evening drew to an end, Lewis went up on the deck and took the microphone from Creekside owner Keith Rutledge and spoke to the crowd.
"I was totally blown away when I pulled in here today to see people I know," Lewis said. "Future friends, current friends, old friends. It melted my heart.
"People ask me why I'm still in Siloam? This is why. because of the support. I can't do this by myself. But I can do it with every single one of you with me. Once again, you don't have to give me anything, just your company and your prayers is all that I ask. ... Give me a few weeks and we'll be out here celebrating this thing."
In a brief interview with the Herald-Leader in between visiting with friends, Lewis said the cancer diagnosis has been life-changing.
"My lifestyle is changing day by day," she said. "It's a little bit of a trial and error situation to see what works, what doesn't work. I know I've got a little battle on my hands, but that's nothing abnormal either."
India Lewis was a multiple-sport standout athlete at Siloam Springs in the late 1990s, starring in volleyball, basketball and softball.
She's probably best known for leading the Lady Panthers basketball team to the Class AAAA state championship in 1999. She was named Miss Basketball by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and also garnered the newspaper's Female Athlete of the Year award in 1999.
Lewis then went on to play four seasons at the University of Arkansas under then-coach Gary Blair, where she was a regular contributor and second on the team in scoring the last two years. The Razorbacks reached the NCAA Tournament in three of her four seasons there.
Lewis was happy to be back in Siloam Springs on Friday and said she felt the love from her home community.
"You look around, I couldn't get this anywhere else," she said. "These are my people. This is my support cast. They're helping me get through my day more than they realize. It's the reason I'm here."
In a Facebook post from the Purple Banana, on Sunday night, owners Rod and Sandy Gray said the benefit raised thousands of dollars for the Lewis family.
"It was a beautiful night celebrating a beautiful woman. @ialewis21 we all love you! Rod and I want to personally thank the city administrators of Siloam Springs for letting us put together this benefit. You guys went above and beyond. It truly speaks volumes of what a small town can do for such a big cause."
The Grays encouraged people to still donate to Lewis' account at Arvest and her Go Fund Me site.
Sports on 07/25/2018