Lady Flames do their part to help kids with cancer
Photo courtesy of Lee Flames.
Earlier this month, the women’s soccer team hosted their annual event, Kickin’ It for Kids with Cancer. The evening marked the ninth year in a row the team has partnered with the Austin Hatcher Foundation to host this event.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation started at Samford University in Alabama in 2005. They provide free behavior help services to children and families impacted by pediatric cancer. From the day of diagnosis through the lifetime of the patient, the foundation offers its services to the whole family.
The organization offers a wide variety of services to help families affected by pediatric cancer. For one night every year, the Lady Flames do their part to help this foundation.
“I think Lee is a great school and they’ve got an awesome soccer team. It’s a great fit for us. We serve a lot of families in the Cleveland area and it’s a good way to reach a different area outside of Chattanooga,” said Julia Sharp, development coordinator at the Austin Hatcher Foundation.
Kickin’ It for Kids with Cancer is a night to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer and give local kids a chance to get out and have some fun.
“Given the intensity and time-consuming treatment they have to go through, the kids have to miss out on a lot of stuff. So being able to do something different — love on them and see them smile and have fun — makes it all worthwhile,” said Chris Hennessey, head coach of the women’s soccer team.
Olivia Weatherford. Photo courtesy of Lee Flames.
They’ve just recently partnered with the Chattanooga Football Club, but are not partnered with other college teams. They plan on keeping this tradition going at Lee for a long time to come.
“It’s been strong for many years now, and we love this partnership with the girls’ soccer team. They seem enthusiastic about it every year,” said April Nesin, a pediatric psychologist that works with the foundation.
The Lady Flames’s newest honorary member, Olivia Weatherford, also stopped by to spend some time with the team. The 5-year-old has been battling stage 4 cancer since April, and the team has sought to honor her throughout the season.
For the young adults on Lee’s campus, this event is an eye-opener into reality.
“My hope is that it helps the students know that kids get cancer too and that there is an organization locally that they can volunteer at,” said Nesin.
The foundation is always looking for volunteers to help keep its services going. Any student is welcome to volunteer and may be eligible to receive service hours.
For further information on the Austin Hatcher Foundation, click here.
