We want to share some information with you about the fund-raising efforts for Ryan Peterson, the 21-month old son of Skyline volleyball coach Mark Peterson.

Ryan was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this month and is receiving treatment at Children's Hospital. Mark, in his 10th season as coach, immediately stepped down to focus on his family.

The Issaquah community has come together in several ways to try to help raise money for Ryan's care, and the efforts are spreading.

Just today Mount Si coach Bonnie Foote announced that all concession proceeds from tomorrow's match with Bellevue are being donated to the Ryan Peterson Leukemia Fund, which has been established at Bank of America. Hole in the Wall Barbecue is donating pulled pork sandwiches for the event.

It's senior night for the seventh-ranked Wildcats, who are unbeaten in KingCo 3A/2A play and have clinched their first volleyball title in 21 years, according to Foote.

Many more fund-raising efforts are sure to emerge. To date, approximately $5,000 has been donated. Anyone interested can contribute at any Bank of America.

About half of the money raised thus far came during the Skyline-Issaquah football game a week and a half ago, where students and parents from both "rival" schools combed the stands during that pouring rain for donations.

Mark and his wife, Angie, learned of Ryan's diagnosis on Saturday, Oct. 10 -- after taking him to the pediatrician to have an ear infection re-checked.

Mark notified Skyline athletic director Kevin Rohrich that afternoon and they agreed freshman coach Laura Gacayan wound be named interim varsity coach. Gacayan (formerly Laura Lindsley) is a former Skyline player and this is her third year on the coaching staff. She and JV coach Amy Moszeter, in her first season, have shared many of the duties.

There was thoughts of postponing the KingCo 4A match with Newport that Monday, Oct. 12, but the Spartans decided to go forward with it and players wore Ryan's initials on their arms in support -- something they will do for the rest of the season.

Skyline won that match and is 4-1 since the diagnosis, losing only a 5-set match to Issaquah. The team finished fourth in league competition and begins KingCo 4A tournament play Saturday.

We will continue to follow this story.

You can follow the family's journal on the CaringBridge website here. You will need to create a password, but it's an easy process.

This is obviously a difficult, frightening time for the Peterson family, which includes big-brother James, who is 5. The volleyball community is stepping up to help, as is the Issaquah community in general.