BUFFALO, NY – When the Buffalo State and Cortland women's volleyball teams hit the court in preparation for Saturday's SUNYAC contest, they'll be playing for an even greater cause than postseason positioning.
The squads will team up in support of the P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative, a foundation that has affected the lives of countless children and their families throughout the Western New York area.
Inspired by the battle against bilateral Wilms' tumors that Jack, the cousin of Buffalo State freshman
Ella Wittman and Cortland graduate student Meadow Wittman, has so bravely taken on, the teams spearheaded the formation of this event. The hope is to raise both awareness and money to support a cause near and dear to their hearts.
During warmups, both teams will wear specially designed shirts to show support for the P.U.N.T Pediatric Cancer Collaborative, and Jack will be honored before the game. Game time is set for 1 pm from the Buffalo State Sports Arena.
JACK'S STORY
At just 10 months old, Jack was diagnosed with bilateral Wilms', cancerous tumors on both of his kidneys. In an instant, the lives of Jack and his family changed as they learned about the chemotherapy and surgeries that would occur at Boston Children's Hospital. With a four-year old at home, another child on the way, and now a cancer diagnosis for Jack, the family began to feel overwhelmed.
Then entered P.U.N.T., there for Jack and his family every step of the way, always asking what the family needed and doing anything to help, becoming more like friends of the family. The foundation stepped in to provide financial support when Jack's life was focused on chemotherapy, sickness, and out-of-town surgeries, allowing the family to focus their attention to where it mattered most: on Jack.
Jack and his family were "adopted" for Christmas by P.U.N.T. through the Adopt-A-Family initiative for two years, helping to create the most magical Christmases ever! P.U.N.T was also there for Jack and his family when he returned from his second surgery, gifting him with a beautiful wagon that would fit all three children in it. This allowed Jack to participate in fun activities as a young child should, while also giving him a comfortable spot to rest when he was tired or fatigued.
The support of P.U.N.T. allowed Jack's family to devote time and energy to helping Jack, and was always there for him and his family to help them stay afloat.
Jack has endured 14 months (104 doses) of chemotherapy, three major abdominal surgeries that have left him with just half a kidney, multiple blood transfusions, and so much sickness. But we are thrilled to report that Jack is now NINE MONTHS IN REMISSION!!
ABOUT THE P.U.N.T. PEDIATRIC CANCER COLLABORATIVE
The P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative was founded in 2004 by former National Football League punter Brian Moorman, who played for the Buffalo Bills from 2001 to 2013, and his wife Amber. The desire of the foundation is to make a difference for kids in Western New York who were fighting pediatric cancer, and to create a long-lasting impact on the lives of these children and their families.
The P.U.N.T. acronym stands for Perseverance, Understanding, Need, and Teamwork, and the collaborative has a mission of providing critical financial, emotional, and practical support to families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis, while serving as a source of hope and healing.
The non-profit organization has grown tremendously as a well-respected and heavily relied upon source of assistance for local families dealing with the effects of pediatric cancer.
You can learn more about the P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative, and the programs that it sponsors to make a difference in the lives of so many families at
www.puntpediatriccancer.org
