FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SC Kids with Cancer Strike Big with USC Football Players

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

Columbia, SC – Friday, January 25, 2008:  Local children facing cancer will enjoy 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 will meet at 5:00 pm at Anchor Lanes located in Irmo at 1000 Columbia Avenue off Lake Murray Blvd. There children with cancer and their siblings will have the opportunity to bowl with the USC football team, enjoy a pizza party dinner, interact with the players, get their t-shirts autographed, and take pictures during this annual event sponsored by USC and Children’s Chance. This event is not open to the public, but the media are invited to attend. Families will enjoy this special evening with the USC Football Team at Anchor Lanes from 5-8 pm, while treasuring these unforgettable memories for a life time.

This year’s event is expected to be a huge success hosting about 65 children with cancer as well as their siblings and parents, totaling about 300 people in attendance. Sponsored by Children’s Chance and USC’s Athletics Department, “An Evening with the Gamecocks” is in its seventh year of existence.  Last year’s event was a big success, touching the lives of many children throughout the state impacted by cancer. Coach Spurrier also 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.”

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.