B+ Hero Spotlight: B+ Hero Danny and Delaware Football
The relationship between a B+ Hero and their paired organization is not only special, but also reminds us of the importance behind everything that we do for the kids. This past summer, we began introducing B+ Heroes and showcasing how valuable the experiences between a family and their paired organization are.
B+ Hero Danny was first diagnosed with cancer in 2010 at only two years old, and after four years and eight months of being cancer-free, his cancer sadly returned in 2017. Throughout this time, his paired organization, the Delaware Football team, stood by his side and supported him throughout his incredible display of strength and perseverance. He has become not only their B+ Hero, but the center of their team.
Within the past couple of years of being the Delaware Football team’s B+ Hero, Danny has been a constant source of inspiration and purpose. The team explains how having B+ Hero Danny “by their side, in their minds, and in their hearts,” helps them to realize the importance of the opportunities they have to support him, and all children like him. At each game he attends, all team members are reminded of the tremendous fight and determination he demonstrates on a daily basis. B+ Hero Danny brings a new light, and energy, to the room, and the team cannot imagine continuing their day-to-day routine without knowing him.
Although the Delaware Football team has created countless memories with B+ Hero Danny by their side, they agree that their favorite memory thus far has been UDance 2019. The team were able to spend the entire day with B+ Hero Danny and further get to know him and his family on a deeper level. The highlight of their day was supporting B+ Hero Danny while he walked across the Bob Carpenter Center stage, followed by 70+ Delaware Football players. Learning more about his story with childhood cancer, especially on the largest fundraising day of the year, was extremely rewarding and inspirational for everyone involved. Moments like these continue to encourage the team to push their fundraising efforts and give endless support to B+ Hero Danny, and all heroes like him.
Along with attending huge events like UDance, the team are always incorporating B+ Hero Danny into anything that they plan. He has joined them at the annual Reps for Kids event for the past couple of years, and he attends any football games he is available for. The team considers B+ Hero Danny to be another member, and having him walk around the locker room with them before games has been an “absolute privilege.”
After spending so much time as a team with B+ Hero Danny, they feel honored to have learned so much about his interests and personality. The pairing is a perfect fit, considering B+ Hero Danny is the biggest sports fan the Delaware Football team has ever met. Just from their time spent together, the team has learned so much about the history and players of all different sports, along with B+ Hero Danny’s passion and enthusiasm relating to athletics. He’s a true competitor at heart, shown by his perseverance towards the enormous set of circumstances that he has faced throughout his life, which inspires the team to become the best versions of themselves.
Although the upcoming season has been canceled, this is not something that will be able to diminish the strong relationship between B+ Hero Danny and the Delaware Football team. Throughout every obstacle they may encounter this semester, they feel inspired and motivated by B+ Hero Danny’s strength to keep pushing through. They look forward to future games, UDance events, and continuously increasing their fundraising efforts to help fight childhood cancer with the same perservence that B+ Hero Danny shows them everyday.