Let’s face it. We are all competitive. We all want to win. Each of our communities take pride in our schools and our sports programs. We love our children, and we love cheering for them on Friday nights. A very good friend of mine who is in the coaching ranks once said it best, “Nothing brings people together better than football.”
As the new high school football season is just a few days away, communities across Arkansas are getting excited about the Friday nights under the lights where it is our community against theirs. Before football fever really gets started, I would like to suggest that we all take a moment to put things in their proper perspective.
It truly is a blessing that we have children who are healthy and have the abilities and opportunities to play high school sports. As a parent, nothing is more intoxicating than seeing your child excel on the field or the court. It is exciting and makes any parent proud of their children to see them participate in sports. That feeling is amplified in the many small communities across Arkansas where generations of family members have played and pass the torch on to their children and grandchildren throughout the years.
But with this said, I believe it is important for us all to take a step back and think about those children who cannot play sports, cannot participate in many everyday activities, and unfairly find themselves in the competition of their lives of beating cancer. Like all of you, I thank God that my children did not have to face this, and my prayers are with those who unfortunately are embattled in the game of their lives of surviving each day. They are not concerned with touchdowns, tackles, glory, or the hope of playing college football. They are simply fighting to live.
This football season during the month of September, Max Preps is sponsoring “Touchdowns Against Cancer Games.” Football fans can download the Max Preps app on their smart phones and go to their favorite school. Once there, click on the “schedules” portion of your school’s page. Your team’s schedule will appear, along with a subtitle “Touchdowns Against Cancer Games” over the September games. Click on that link, and you will be directed to information on how you and / or your school can raise money for “St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to fight childhood cancer with every touchdown scored.”
All of us have been impacted by cancer, either directly or indirectly. The statistics on the proliferation of this dreaded disease is alarming. All of us have reasons to support St. Jude’s or any other legitimate charity or research entity engaged in the drive to end cancer.
My hope and prayer is that this article will play a small role in motivating or inspiring your school or all of us as fans to support this worthy cause. You can donate directly though the Max Preps app, or your school or organization can raise money. I can’t think of a better service project for any school to do at the start of the new school year and football season.
So when the first drive of the new season begins next week, let’s move the sticks and keep the drive going. Let’s take it into the end zone, and raise more and more money for those children who do not have the opportunity to play the great game of high school football.
We have passionate football fans across Arkansas…we have a great opportunity to make a difference. Let’s tap into some of that passion and redirect it to the worthy cause of eliminating childhood cancer. Download the Max Preps app to your phone today!
