Contact:

Samantha Higgins

Public Relations Director

Children’s Chance

(803) 254-5996, or (803) 629-4873

samanthahiggins@bellsouth.net  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SC Kids with Cancer Strike Big with USC Football Players

Children with Cancer and their Families Spend a Special Evening with the USC Football Team

Columbia, SC – Monday, January 28 2008:  Local children facing cancer enjoyed The 7th Annual “An Evening with the Gamecocks” event with The USC Football Team on Friday, January 25^th at Anchor Lanes Bowling Alley. Families and caregivers met at 5 pm at Anchor Lanes located in Irmo and anxiously awaited for the football team, who arrived close to 6pm. There children with cancer and their siblings had the opportunity to bowl with the USC football team, enjoyed a pizza party dinner, interacted with the players, got their t-shirts autographed, and took pictures during this annual event sponsored by USC and Children’s Chance.

This year’s event was a huge success hosting about 65 children with cancer as well as their siblings and parents, totaling about 300 people in attendance. The entire football team showed up to be a part of this meaningful event for young cancer patients and their families and truly made the event the success it was by the spirit they showed while interacting with the kids. Sponsored by Children’s Chance and USC’s Athletics Department, “An Evening with the Gamecocks” is in its seventh year of existence, and touches the lives of many children throughout the state impacted by cancer. Coach Spurrier has announced that the “Evening with the Gamecocks” would continue to be an annual event.

Samantha Higgins, Public Relations/Development Director of Children’s Chance, states, “We are so fortunate to have such enthusiastic support from the USC football team players, coaches, and staff.  It means a lot to the children to get out of the hospital and just be kids, not always “kids with cancer”.  It’s great to see the players and the coaches care for these children, taking time out of their busy schedule, particularly during this time of year, to give hope to children and families facing a tough time.” “This year the football team has several direct ties to pediatric cancer, one being offensive lineman, Kyle Nunn, who’s younger brother Brock, age 10, is a cancer survivor. I think this makes the event hit home a little more and makes it even more meaningful for the players and kids alike”.

Established in 1996, Children’s Chance is the only non-profit organization that assists families facing pediatric cancer with non-medical financial, psychological, and emotional needs.  Through support from the community, individuals, and businesses, Children’s Chance continues to fund programs such as Discretionary Funds to help families pay non-medical bills such as rent/mortgage, car payments, and telephone bills, Angel Funds which provides families assistance with out of pocket expenses such as gas and food cards, Counseling Services to help these families through an emotionally challenging experience, art therapy, music therapy, teen support groups, and fun events for the families such as The Evening with the Gamecocks. For more information about the event or Children’s Chance, please call (803) 254-5996 or visit www.childrenschance.org.