The Gators wore Brooke Strong shirts to warm-up for Thursday's Pediatric Cancer Awareness match versus FGCU. Above, sophomore Cassidy Lindley with Addison (left) and Brooke Dunn.
Pediatric Cancer Awareness Match Special to Gators
Friday, September 13, 2019 | Soccer
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Two connected to UF team - junior Lauren Evans and eight-year old Brooke Dunn - both battled childhood cancer. Their fight gives perspective and motivation to the Gators.
By: Eli Rosen - UF Athletics Communications
Eight-year-old Brooke Dunn stood on the sidelines of Thursday night's game, watching on as the Gators demonstrated some of the same strength that she has used herself to fight battles with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the central nervous system and nerve tissue.
The University of Florida soccer team came out on top 4-0 in Thursday night's interstate clash with the Eagles from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Yet, this game meant more to the Gators than a tally in the win column. Thursday marked the team's annual Pediatric Cancer Awareness match. The Gators, along with many in the stands Thursday, wore orange to show their support for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.
The Dunn sisters - Brooke (behind #2 Cassidy Lindley) and Addison (behind #44 Susi Espinoza) joined the Gators for Thursday's pre-match introductions. The Gators wore orange Thursday for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Brooke Dunn rang the bell at UF Shands Health Hospital last month to signal her scans show NED (No Evidence of Disease) after her battle with neuroblastoma.
Gator head coach Becky Burleigh and Florida junior Lauren Evans reflected on how impactful Brooke and Addison's (Brooke's six-year old sister) presence has been to the team.
"Having them there gives you some perspective," Burleigh said. "They've just been such a great addition to our team."
Dunn isn't the only one on the Gator roster who has a personal connection to Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.
Evans was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in November of her freshman year.
Brooke Dunn with Lauren Evans (#34) at last month's Friends of Jaclyn adoption. Both Dunn and Evans underwent their successful childhood cancer treatments at UF Health Shands.
Dunn and Evans may be more than a decade apart in age, but their past battles with pediatric cancer at UF Health Shands Hospital created an inseparable bond between the two.
"She is the least shy around me," Evans said. "I know that she's comfortable talking about certain things with me."
The two don't only possess an emotional connection, but a physical one as well.
"We both have a scar in the same spot for our chemotherapy port," Evans said. "She thinks that's cool."
Both rang the bell at UF Health Shands (Evans/June of 2018 and Dunn/August of 2019) to show NED (No Evidence of Disease).
The effects of chemotherapy ended Evans plans to rejoin her teammates on the pitch, but it hasn't kept her from embracing a new role on the Gator soccer team.
"The way I look at it is that people always say one door closes for another one to open," she said.
For Florida junior Kit Loferski, Dunn has been a daily reminder to think outside of herself.
"When you're on the field and you're exhausted, tired and almost in pain - it brings you back to it," Loferski said. "We are playing for something so much bigger than ourselves. It's a new and improved motivation."
Brooke and Addison's support on the sideline was still fresh in the Gators' minds after the match.
"They've just been a light on our team, Burleigh said. "They've embraced our team but our team has also embraced them too."
Freshman Kouri Peace said the entire team has drawn inspiration from Brooke and Addison's support.
"They mean the world to not just me, but to everyone," Peace said after scoring her first collegiate goal in Thursday's win. "This one was for them tonight."
