Coker SAAC Set to Host Third Annual Make-A-Wish Day

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker College women’s and men’s basketball teams will play their final regular season games on Saturday (Feb. 27) against Carson-Newman University. In addition to the game, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will host its third annual ‘Make-A-Wish Day’, an event to raise funds and awareness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Coker Athletics and SAAC are so honored to be part of the NCCA Division II Make-A-Wish initiative,” said first-year SAAC advisor Ali Nelson. “We take great pride in knowing that we are making a difference in a child's life and providing them with something positive during a difficult time."

This year the SAAC will honor 13-year-old Make-A-Wish recipient, Hannah Weatherford, from Darlington S.C. Weatherford, who was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2014, attends Trinity Byrnes Collegiate School and enjoys playing volleyball, softball and cheerleading.  In the summer of 2014, she began having strange joint pain, unexplainable fevers and fatigue.  Her parents searched for answers from doctors and specialists with no luck.  On October 14, 2014, they received the worst news any parent could, it was cancer.  Hannah was rushed back to MUSC and diagnosed with Leukemia.  She began chemo therapy on the following Thursday and doctors assured her parents that she was going to be just fine. She has since completed her first year of treatment and is doing well.  There have been many stressful and scary times, but she is on her way to a full recovery. Hannah has a little under a year left of treatment before she will be cancer free.

Hannah will be an honorary member of the women’s basketball team and will receive a game jersey. Before Saturdays’ women's game Hannah and her mother, Argent Weatherford, will be recognized and presented with a game ball.

“We are very excited and greatful to be a part of this special day,” said Argent Weatherford. "Hannah and I cannot thank Coker College, and the Coker athletic department, enough for making her a member of the team. It is going to be a great day."

Donations can be made prior and during the game, with all funds raised going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Make-A-Wish stars will be given to donors that can be placed on the Make-A-Wish Wall in the lobby of Coker’s DeLoach Center.

More About Make-A-Wish

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that arranges experiences to children with life-threatening medical conditions.