Richmond Leader

Making an IMPACT: Honorary Captains Set for Saturday

Two special guest players will be tagging along when captains from #21/25 Richmond and #16/17 Villanova take to the 50-yard line for Saturday's coin toss.

 

Richmond's honorary captain, eight-year-old Finn Blumenthal, and Villanova's honorary captain, 14-year-old Anthony Hotham, will stand with their teammates during the opening coin toss of the game between two of the top teams in the Colonial Athletic Association.

 

Both boys and their families have partnered with Team IMPACT, a nonprofit that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams. The partnerships create long-term, life-changing experiences for everyone involved. Together, teams and the children they're paired with learn life lessons about hard work, accountability, teamwork, perseverance, leadership, adversity and grit.

 

Richmond's newest teammate, Finn, was born with congenital heart disease and has undergone 18 procedures including two open-heart surgeries for a condition that causes him to lack chambers in his heart and have abnormal connections throughout.

 

Finn was officially made a Richmond Spider in September when he was joined by his mother and older brother Mason for a special signing day ceremony. The Fredericksburg natives enjoyed a pizza party with the Richmond coaching staff before head coach Russ Huesman offered him his National Letter of Intent in front of all his new teammates.

 

On the other side of the field will be Anthony. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the teenager has undergone multiple open-heart surgeries but still maintains involvement in sports by playing baseball and managing the La Salle College High School varsity football team.

 

While both boys are active, their conditions have kept them from physically being able to play football.

 

Though they may not be able to run, throw, kick and tackle like their teammates, both boys are still in the game as full members of their respective programs and regularly participate in events like practices, games, bus trips and team celebrations.

 

"Team IMPACT has truly been just that— an absolute impact— on our son Finn and our entire family," said Finn's mother, Kelly Blumenthal. "He has friendships, confidence, morale, excitement, inclusion and so many other amazing things that we never knew were coming when he signed with the Richmond Spiders. He truly feels like he's a part of the team."

 

While the boys share similar conditions and the same love for football, that's not all they have in common— both have received life-long treatment from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and have even undergone the same life-saving surgery by the same surgeon.

 

Bonded by their similar struggles and love for football, the families will meet for the first time at Saturday's game. Fans in attendance will also include other children and families facing similar health challenges who were invited to share in the excitement of the top-25 matchup.

 

"Team IMPACT and the Villanova football program have made me feel like I was any player on the team," said Anthony, who lives about 40 minutes north of the Villanova campus.

 

Both boys are in their first year of two-year partnerships with their teams. Finn can be spotted wearing his No. 37 jersey on Saturday, while Anthony wears No. 1 for the Wildcats.

Original source can be found here