Goals for Brady

By: Maya Tinajero, Skyline Editor  

ALPINE - Members of the Sul Ross men’s soccer team are working together to help one of their own win a battle against cancer. 

Sophomore defender Brady Wade had a small knee injury back in early February of this year. After doctors conducted multiple MRI’s and other scans on Wade, they came back with a diagnosis of osteosarcoma, bone cancer. Upon receiving the news, Wade wanted to be sure of the diagnosis before sharing it with his teammates. 

“I was definitely very upset, and I guess confused, and trying to come to terms with it,” Brady said.   

Once Wade told his teammates of his diagnosis, the support was undeniable. Sophomore’s Diego Flamenco and Jesus Duque as well as senior Lewis Coates organized a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for their teammates’ medical expenses. Flamenco and Duque have known Wade since high school and described their shock at Wade’s news.  

“For the most part he (Wade) is a pretty healthy guy,” Duque said, “He has just had an injury this past fall, but you never think it’s cancer.” 

Along with the GoFundMe, Flamenco, Duque, and Coates are planning a youth soccer camp that is to take place on April 26. According to the players , the proceeds from this camp will be added to the money raised through GoFundMe. 

“We’re trying to merge it together so the people who go to the soccer camp donate it straight to the GoFundMe and it’s not like a middle person.” Coates said.  

 Coates explained the goal of the soccer camp, “They’re (soccer camp participants) giving money for Brady but then we’re giving our experience to help kids out and make a little light of the situation.” The group has reached out to the local elementary schools and plans on advertising off campus to get as much community involvement as possible.  

Osteosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that affects the cells of bones. According to the American Cancer Society, there are about 1,000 new cases of the cancer diagnosed yearly, and about half of those diagnoses are in children and adolescents. When asked what message, if any, he hoped the community of Alpine would take away from his story, Wade said, “I definitely want awareness to be brought to osteosarcoma, because I didn’t know what it was. I want my story out there so someone can relate to me.”    

Wade’s teammates also have high hopes for their efforts, “Just knowing that a player whose committed time, effort, and is obviously one of our teammates, and is a great guy who has unfortunately been diagnosed with this; everyone should get together and support this,”  Coates said. “Not only for Brady but to make awareness that this stuff happens.” 

The soccer camp fundraiser, dubbed “Goals for Brady” will take place April 26 at 2 p.m. on the Sul Ross State Rec Field. The camp is open to ages from 6 to 14 of all skill levels.  

Link to “Goals for Brady” GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/c89ce8c4e 

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