Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia

From Cancer to Coach

Back in 1996, Michael was a sick young guy. Diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, this athlete-in-the-making wanted to meet the greatest baseball player he had ever seen play the game - Ken Griffey, Jr. That was in 1996 and Michael was just 12 years old. Ken Griffey, Jr., was a guy Michael admired both on and off the field. And so, in May of 1996, we sent Michael and his family to Seattle to meet this stellar player. Michael was the 2,067^th wish we granted.

And this is Michael today. He's 23 years old and an assistant football coach at St. Francis University, where he attended and played Division I-AA football before graduation. Michael is pictured here with his girlfriend, Mame Brumbaugh, at the San Diego marathon, a race they completed to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in May 2008. Together, Michael and Mame raised more than $4,700.

Michael is the founder of the annual Relay for Life event at St. Francis University. He is the recipient of the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society Courage Award and the American Legion Leadership Award, as well as the 2001 Highmark Courage to Come Back winner. Michael was a four-year starter and a three-year captain of his St. Francis University football team. He led the team in tackles two of four years and is 6th on its all-time tackle list with 337 tackles. Michael is currently studying for his Master's Degree in Human Resources.