Contact:

                                                                                      Samantha Higgins

                                                                                      Public Relations Director

                                                                                     Children’s Chance

                                                                                    (803) 254-5996

                                                                                    samanthahiggins@bellsouth.net         

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kids with cancer help Gamecocks kick off the Holiday Season!

South Carolina children battling cancer cheer on the Gamecocks as they prepare for the Liberty Bowl

(Columbia, SC – Saturday, December 16, 2006):  Local children facing cancer will enjoy The Sixth Annual “An Evening with the Gamecocks” football team and coaches on Saturday, December 16, 2006. Families and caregivers will meet at the stadium in the parking lot near the Cockabooses at 5:00 pm to enjoy watching the end of team practice (weather permitting), looking around the facilities, and signing a card to cheer the Gamecocks on and wish them good luck in the Liberty Bowl. After practice, around 5:30-6:00 pm, the children along with their families and caregivers will make their way up to The Zone where they will enjoy dinner with the team and coaches. Children with cancer will interact with the football players, eat dinner, and enjoy getting their t-shirts autographed by the team! This event is not open to the public, but the media are encouraged to attend.

This year’s event is expected to be the biggest and best yet hosting about 100 families who have a child with cancer with close to 400 kids, siblings, and family members attending. Sponsored by Children’s Chance and USC’s Athletics Department, “An Evening with the Gamecocks” is in its sixth 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.