University Hospitals and Kent State Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer
10/21/2021 12:01:00 PM | General
KENT, OHIO- University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital teamed up with Kent State Athletics in the weeks leading up to the October 9, 2021 football game vs. the University at Buffalo.
As part of the Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer Campaign, Kent State Football wore gold shoe laces for the game as 12,105 came out for the nationally televised game under the lights at Dix Stadium. Last week, the Football team had a virtual visit at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. They were surprised as Angie’s Institute patient, Noah, revealed the Gold Out jersey that they would be wearing for their upcoming game. Lastly, to cap off the week, the Kent Football team invited a former and current patient of UH Rainbow out to the football game for an experience to remember.
Tim Tusick, a 21-year-old and current Kent State student beat acute lymphoblastic leukemia at University Hospital Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. He has helped raise over $960,000 for cancer research by selling T-shirts, Super Bowl Squares, and through other fundraising efforts. Tim was given the opportunity to be the honorary captain for the Kent State football team. He walked to the middle of the field where he was recognized for all of his accomplishments, and then he was able to participate in the coin toss before the game.
He was not the only one to have an amazing experience.
Harper Spencer is a 7-year-old that is in 2nd grade. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2019. However, Harper does not let this stop him from doing what he loves. While he was sidelined from football the past couple years, this fall he is playing flag football and soccer for his school for the first time since being diagnosed. Kent State was scheduled to kick off after halftime, and Harper ran the game ball out to the field to begin the half. After this he was able to watch the rest of the game with Athletics Director, Randale Richmond, in his private box. He was then recognized for his courage as he continues to fight cancer.
Kent State University would like to offer a big thank you to University Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital for helping give Tim and Harper this opportunity and for their continued support of the Kent State Golden Flashes. University Hospitals is the preferred Healthcare partner of Kent State Athletics.
