For the past five years, the Springfield College football team has established a relationship with Luke Bradley, a 13-year old from South Hadley, MA. Team IMPACT is a non-profit organization charted to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening illnesses. Team IMPACT initially brought the Bradley family and the Springfield College football family together, but the relationship has grown far beyond a draft party, with Luke since becoming an integral part of our team. This experience has been so much more than any of us expected and Luke and his family have taught us more than any of us could have ever imagined. It feels as if the two families have been connected for much longer than three years. Eight years ago, Luke was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), one of the most common cancers that affect children. The disease stunted Luke’s growth, sapped his energy and put him in the hospital more times than any person, let alone a young child, should ever endure. However, there was also hope for the Bradley family, as ALL has one of the highest survival rates among childhood cancers. Three years after the diagnosis, after finishing his treatments and settling back into remission for a little over a year (where he was able to get back on the playing fields and start in his first youth football game) the disease has unfortunately come back. All Luke did was once again take on the fight in the same gritty fashion we have become accustomed to from him. Luke has been in a fight for his life over the past 2 years battling of meningitis, brain bleeds, seizures, and many other side effects that no person let alone a child should have to endure. On December 22, Luke underwent a Bone marrow transplant to hopefully once and for all cure this disease. The most amazing part of the transplant was that Ryan Luke’s dad was the donor. To continue the fight alongside Luke, we are asking for your help and support towards this venture. On Sunday, March 25th, The Bradley’s and the rest of his Springfield College football family are teaming up with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven group positioned to raise awareness of childhood cancer and funds for a cure, with their “Shave to Save” initiative at Hangar Pub & Grill in Amherst, MA. Unfortunately, Luke will not be able to make it due to the transplant he has to be in isolation for the next six months. However, his energy and unwavering attitude will drive our team to surpassing last year’s total of over $20,000 raised. Each year, 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. In the United States, more children die of cancer than any other disease – more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and diabetes combined. One in five children diagnosed with childhood cancer will not survive, and two out of three children treated for childhood cancer will suffer from long-term effects such as sight and hearing loss, heart disease, secondary cancer and infertility. As it stands now, less than four percent of the National Cancer Institute’s budget is allotted to the research of childhood cancer. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation uses every dollar raised for childhood cancer research only and have raised over $250 million in research grants since 2005. Finding safer, more effective treatments for childhood cancer can’t be done without you. We hope that you can get involved by donating whatever you can, as every dollar will help make a difference in this battle. To donate, volunteer or learn more about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, visit https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/963071/2018