When NFL Stars Torry and Terrence Holt square off against each other this coming Sunday (December 30, 2007) as the St. Louis Rams travel to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Cardinals, something much more important will take place on the field prior to kickoff. The Holt Foundation is proud to announce they are partnering with the Comprehensive Cancer Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona to create a Kidscan! Cancer Support Program. Just before the kickoff of the game the brothers will meet on the field and present a check for $50,000 to representatives from St. Joseph's to initiate the program.
The Kidscan! Program will provide educational and emotional support for the basic needs of children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer. The program offers a safe nurturing place for children and their families to help them understand the many aspects of cancer. Here families can discuss concerns and develop healthy coping strategies through planned activities each month. Parents are provided with their own forum where they can address parenting concerns and share experiences.
"Having lost our mother to cancer we understanding the feelings and emotions young children face with this disease," stated Terrence Holt, of the Arizona Cardinals. "We are delighted to partner with our friends at St. Joseph's and reach out to these families in need."
This will be the fifth children's cancer program the Holt brothers have started. The previous four are located in St. Louis where Torry plays for the Rams, Raleigh, North Carolina where the Holt brothers both attended North Carolina State University, Durham, North Carolina and near their home town in Burlington, North Carolina.
About the Holt Foundation
The Holt Foundation was established in 1999 by St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt to honor his mother, the late Ojetta V. Holt-Shoffner. Cancer took her life on December 27, 1996, but her memory will live on through the many positive ventures the Holt Foundation undertakes for the benefit of cancer patients. In 2002, Torry's brother, Terrence Holt, entered the NFL and joined Torry in his effort to raise funds for the foundation. Together, the Holt Brothers have successfully impacted the lives of hundreds of children trying to cope with the pain of having a loved one battle cancer. For more information on The Holt Foundation, please visit their web site at www.holtfoundation.com or call (866) 394-8800 ext. 12.
About St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, St. Joseph's is a 690-bed, not-for-profit hospital that provides a wide range of health, social and support services with special advocacy for the poor and underserved. St. Joseph's is a nationally recognized center for quality tertiary care, medical education and research. It includes the internationally renowned Barrow Neurological Institute, the Heart & Lung Institute, St. Joseph's Children's Health Center and a level-one Trauma Center. The hospital is also a respected center for oncology, maternity care, orthopedics and many other medical services. U.S. News and World Report routinely ranks St. Joseph's among the best hospitals in the United States for neurology and neurosurgery.
