Sept. 13, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford University soccer players Michelle Moll, Shannon Weathington, Sarah Wilkinson and Adrianne Mancino all paid a visit to Children's Hospital of Alabama in downtown Birmingham on Monday.

The players spent time with patients in the Children's 4T unit at the hospital. They helped decorate hats for the children to wear Tuesday as part of the unit's "Crazy Hat Day". The Samford soccer players also made handprints to decorate the doors to the Children's 4T unit.

"It was an incredible experience," said Samford senior Sarah Wilkinson. "I was proud to get the opportunity to talk with the kids and get to hear their stories. It's remarkable the strength they have with all they go through. The girls and I had a blast making hats for the kids' upcoming crazy hat day. I look forward to going back soon and spending more time with them."

Fellow-senior Shannon Weathington added, "It was a great experience being able to go to Children's and do something so small knowing how meaningful it would be to all of the children. We went there to give back and left feeling so blessed to be a part of something bigger than ourselves."

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Monday's visit was part of the Bulldog soccer team's mission to raise awareness for pediatric cancer. Samford soccer will host Pediatric Cancer Night on Friday, Oct. 21, against Davidson. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer's mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child's quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnoses and continuing throughout survivorship.

The Foundation provides services to children with cancer as well as their families through its cancer care center, Hatch's House of Hope. The Foundation provides all services at no cost to the families. Services are funded solely by the generous donations of its supporters.

Throughout the season, members of the Samford soccer team will take part in "Team Beads of Courage," a program through Children's Hospital. A group of players will wear a bead at each home match in honor of a child with cancer.

After the match, the bead will be returned to a patient at Children's Hospital, along with a note of encouragement. The purpose of "Beads of Courage" is to bring a boost of encouragement to a child coping with serious illness and needs the most encouragement.

Samford soccer will continue to visit Children's Hospital throughout the season.

Be sure to mark your calendars for Friday, Oct. 21, as the Samford soccer team raises awareness and collects donations for Pediatric Cancer and the Hatch Foundation.

The Hatcher Foundation's Official Website