Lopes welcome special addition

The Grand Canyon softball team embraced a new member to the team on Saturday through Team IMPACT, as Phoenix 5-year-old Kennedy Headlee signed her National Letter of Intent during a celebration hosted by the Lopes.

Kennedy was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease that causes lung infections and clogged airways. The GCU softball staff offered her the opportunity to join the softball team through Team IMPACT, an organization that connects children afflicted with life-threatening and chronic illnesses to local collegiate athletic teams.

22762

"Kennedy is a special little girl with incredible energy and a very loving and supporting family," GCU head coach Ann Pierson said. "We are just so grateful for the opportunity to work with Team IMPACT to build this relationship."

Kennedy will graduate from the softball team in two years, a typical period of time for the program.

"We know it's going to go way past the two years that we will be able to see Kennedy," Pierson said. "We will see this little girl graduate from high school and go onto college and I'm just really excited to get to know her."

GCU received an email from Team IMPACT explaining the process and the players quickly scheduled a day to meet Kennedy and her family.

"It was like we already knew them and that we were automatically family," Lopes senior Loriann Olson said. "We are just so grateful for the opportunity to be able to partner with Team IMPACT and bring her onto our team and let her know that she has so many supporters and encouragers with her to get through the tough times that she has."

Kennedy will attend games, practices, team dinners, events and more. She also was given a locker filled with GCU softball gear to enjoy alongside the Lopes players.

"It helps us realize that we have such a privilege to come out here every day and be in the situation that we are and that, when days get hard, we know that Kennedy has to go through harder days," Olson said. "We can make it through the things that we face, and she encourages us to just keep going and stay positive."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Loriann Olson

Related Videos