A friend in need...

By Melody Regalado - Florida Catholic correspondent

Photographer: MELODY REGALADO | FC

Briana Pulido poses in front of a sign she made to promote the fundraiser.

Photographer: MELODY REGALADO | FC

A sign made by Briana Pulido and posted at the entrance of Archbishop Carroll High School's gym promotes the fundraiser.

MIAMI — They are, for all practical purposes, strangers.

But Briana Pulido, a junior at Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School in Miami, feels a certain affinity for Palida Pongpluempitichai, known as Monica Pong, a senior who was injured in a freak accident at Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches.

“I saw the story and I felt like I was connected to her in some way,” said Briana, 16, who plays guard and forward for the Lady Bulldogs varsity basketball team and also runs track and plays volleyball.

Briana came up with the idea of hosting a fundraiser to benefit Monica, who was injured in October when a woman accidentally pressed the accelerator while driving in reverse, pinning the 17-year-old senior’s leg against a concrete poll.

Photographer: MELODY REGALADO | FC

Briana Pulido, left, and the Lady Bulldogs of Archbishop Carroll High, face off against St. Brendan's Sabres.

Monica underwent surgery at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. She has returned to school while undergoing physical therapy in preparation for getting a prosthetic leg.

Soon after the accident, Briana created a get-well card that was signed by students at Archbishop Carroll High and sent to Monica at the hospital.

But she wanted to do more.

To help alleviate some of the family’s medical expenses and future needs, students at McCarthy High had established The Monica Fund. Briana went to her coach with the idea of contributing to the fund as a school.

That is how, on Dec. 9, the Lady Bulldogs faced off against St. Brendan’s Sabres. The JV and varsity games at the Carroll High gym had a $5 admission fee. Briana’s goal was to raise $200. She raised about $1,000 with more donations still coming in.

The St. Brendan game was selected for the fundraiser because it had drawn a larger turnout when the two schools played each other in the past.

“It shows what we try to instill in the students here, to try to have a sense of charity for others, and it worked perfectly into what our mission is here,” said Francisco Ascorbe, coach of the girls’ basketball varsity team and vice principal of student affairs at Carroll High.

“I’m really glad that the students themselves initiated it because that means that they’ve really taken their Catholic education to heart,” said Sister Marisa Ducote, a Carmelite of the Most Sacred Heart who serves as principal of Carroll High.

Photographer: MELODY REGALADO | FC

Gianna Lopez, whose daughter plays on the JV basketball team at Archbishop Carroll High School, signs a check as Teresa Pulido, Briana’s mom, collects the donations at the entrance to the gym.

Although Monica was not able to attend the games that night, she and Briana have exchanged e-mails over the past few months and have found several commonalities that bring them together.

Like Briana, Monica also ran track, and they are both ambassadors for their school. Richard Jean, currently principal at McCarthy High, was principal at St. Timothy in Miami while Briana attended.

McCarthy and Carroll High also are sister schools: Both were established in 1998 and mirror each other architecturally.

“I didn’t even know Monica, but it doesn’t mean you have to know somebody to care for them or help them out,” said Briana. “If you see somebody in need, it’s your duty to go help them.”

Those interested in donating can do so through Floridian Community Bank, account #200010880. Checks must be made payable to Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School, c/o Monica Fund.