THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Feb. 6, 2014

Shawn Amos and Jeff Hinz are definitely not fighting the toughest fight alone.

The community has stepped up to help Amos, the Coeur d'Alene High football coach, with his battle against Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as Hinz, the Post Falls High football coach, with his fight against non-smoker's lung cancer.

"Growing up in Coeur d'Alene, and now being a Post Falls Trojan, the outreach by both communities has been great," said Hinz, a Coeur d'Alene High graduate. "It's very humbling and overwhelming, and also very thankful.

A fundraiser for both coaches, called "Unite for the Fight," is scheduled for Saturday at noon at Coeur d'Alene High. Among the events planned for the day include a 50/50 raffle, a barbecue pulled pork meal and a chance to win prizes.

Proceeds will be split between the two coaches to help with their medical expenses.

AMOS IS near the end of his treatments, after a lump near his collarbone was diagnosed in October. He has one more chemotherapy treatment scheduled.

But the best news came a couple of weeks ago, when a PET scan came back clean.

"There's no sign of cancer currently," said Amos, knowing that cancer can come and go.

Amos, 47, admitted when he was first diagnosed with cancer, he briefly thought about stepping down as Vikings coach, a position he has held since 1997. But when he found out he has a very treatable form of cancer, and the prognosis for recovery is good, he decided to keep coaching.

Besides ...

"All I've ever done is coach; I don't have any hobbies," Amos said.

His son, senior quarterback Gunnar Amos, who has signed to play football at Idaho, plans to grayshirt this fall, and enroll in January 2015. He could possibly redshirt that fall, meaning it could be two more years before father could watch his son play.

Amos said after Christmas break each year, he sees how he feels about coaching, and if he's not "fired up," then it might be time to step down. He said after the most recent Christmas break, he was still fired up.

"I'm coaching next year, no matter what," Amos said. "And then we'll see how it goes."

HINZ IS still early in his treatments, after the femur in his left leg snapped in half just below the hip on Thanksgiving Day. When he went to the hospital after breaking his leg, that is when his cancer was detected, as it has spread to his leg.

His leg continues to mend, and Hinz said he has an appointment with his orthopedic surgeon next week, and he hopes to return to the classroom following the Presidents' Day weekend, which ends Feb. 17.

"Everybody's still optimistic about my recovery," said Hinz, who has been the Trojans' head coach the past nine seasons. "The only thing that has bothered me is my leg."

THOUGH HE's been home since Thanksgiving, Hinz said he's kept plenty busy during the day - doting on his kids, watching his oldest daughter, Wednesday, compete in indoor track and field meets at Idaho, going to his doctor's appointments and to physical therapy on his leg, and going to Post Falls High basketball games.

He said he's determined to "beat this thing."

"I'm touched by the community, and all the people that will donate, and have donated, dropped off a meal, or helped with the kids," said Hinz, 42.

AMOS says he, too, has been touched by all the community support.

"It's amazing," he said. "You feel like the work you've done, and the time you've invested in their children, they are showing their appreciation. It certainly makes you feel appreciated."

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached by phone at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.