Written by Manuel DeLeon
Kissimmee- Wednesday, both Miami, and West Virginia will look to close out their respective seasons with a victory in the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl. Though the main event will take place on the field, players had the opportunity to take a step back from football and make a bigger impact than any linebacker every could. As a part of the bowl week, players and coaches ascended on Give Kids the World Village to sign autographs, take pictures and interact with kids diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
This year, Give Kids the World celebrates its 30th Anniversary. Since 1986 they have welcomed 150,000 children and their families to take part in a magical experience the kids will remember forever. Monday, made the experience a little more magical as the kids were welcomed by the Hurricanes and Mountaineers. Football may come and go, but the impact of touching someone’s life are memories that will never fade. Football players use the cliché keep pushing, but these kids push and fight on every day. Give Kids the World spokeswomen Sylvia Oliande knows the journeys of both the players and the kids are similar as both have to fight, with the kids drawing inspiration from the players stating “To have these players here, show that strength and that determination to win and to persevere is incredible for them. It's similar to their journey, they've had to push forward and be strong; it’s just another magical memory for them.”
The magical memories at the village can be attributed to a little girl named Amy. Amy’s wish was to visit the Orlando theme parks, but Amy passed away from leukemia before her wish could be granted. In 1986, Henri Landwirth vowed that Amy’s story would never be repeated, and Give Kids the World was founded. They have welcomed kids and their families from all 50 states and 76 countries, with some coming back to help volunteer. In helping to change the lives of children, Landwirth would also have a hand in changing the lives of the young men playing a game on Wednesday, one being Miami Senior Defensive Back Corn Elder who sees the bigger picture saying, “This shows us there’s bigger things than what we have come accustomed to. Everyone has problems, but this is something that’s definitely life changing”
Going through the season, with weekly polls and ranking, things can be taken out of perspective. Baseball may be America’s pastime, but football is the most popular. From August until January, we are consumed by our favorite teams and headlines, we lose sight of what’s really important in life. It’s important we take time to step back and realize football is just a game that will pass, but the human lives you touch and impact, last a lifetime. West Virginia Senior Safety Jarrod Harper knows the importance of events like this saying “Being able to come here and take a step back from football and being able to relate with kids, seeing the things that they’re going through; different situations they’re facing in life, it allows us to see that some of our problems aren’t as bad as some of the kids’ problems.”
I’m pretty sure each team wants to teach the other a lesson come Wednesday afternoon, but the bigger lesson was being learned off the field as both teams got a life lesson from the smallest people with the biggest fight; life is a lot bigger than football.
This year, Give Kids the World celebrates its 30th Anniversary. Since 1986 they have welcomed 150,000 children and their families to take part in a magical experience the kids will remember forever. Monday, made the experience a little more magical as the kids were welcomed by the Hurricanes and Mountaineers. Football may come and go, but the impact of touching someone’s life are memories that will never fade. Football players use the cliché keep pushing, but these kids push and fight on every day. Give Kids the World spokeswomen Sylvia Oliande knows the journeys of both the players and the kids are similar as both have to fight, with the kids drawing inspiration from the players stating “To have these players here, show that strength and that determination to win and to persevere is incredible for them. It's similar to their journey, they've had to push forward and be strong; it’s just another magical memory for them.”
The magical memories at the village can be attributed to a little girl named Amy. Amy’s wish was to visit the Orlando theme parks, but Amy passed away from leukemia before her wish could be granted. In 1986, Henri Landwirth vowed that Amy’s story would never be repeated, and Give Kids the World was founded. They have welcomed kids and their families from all 50 states and 76 countries, with some coming back to help volunteer. In helping to change the lives of children, Landwirth would also have a hand in changing the lives of the young men playing a game on Wednesday, one being Miami Senior Defensive Back Corn Elder who sees the bigger picture saying, “This shows us there’s bigger things than what we have come accustomed to. Everyone has problems, but this is something that’s definitely life changing”
Going through the season, with weekly polls and ranking, things can be taken out of perspective. Baseball may be America’s pastime, but football is the most popular. From August until January, we are consumed by our favorite teams and headlines, we lose sight of what’s really important in life. It’s important we take time to step back and realize football is just a game that will pass, but the human lives you touch and impact, last a lifetime. West Virginia Senior Safety Jarrod Harper knows the importance of events like this saying “Being able to come here and take a step back from football and being able to relate with kids, seeing the things that they’re going through; different situations they’re facing in life, it allows us to see that some of our problems aren’t as bad as some of the kids’ problems.”
I’m pretty sure each team wants to teach the other a lesson come Wednesday afternoon, but the bigger lesson was being learned off the field as both teams got a life lesson from the smallest people with the biggest fight; life is a lot bigger than football.