FARMERVILLE, LA (AP) — A team of 6-year-old flag football players banded together for the past two weeks to raise money for two Union Parish residents battling illnesses.
The recipients — Parker Campbell and LaTisha Stringfellow — were presented with $700 each Thursday by the players, coaches, family and friends.
Parker Campbell was born September 2014 with a complex condition called Apert's syndrome, which is a genetic mutation that causes several different conditions and complications. He has Bicoronal Synostosis, which means both of the coronal sutures have prematurely closed. This causes an abnormal head shape as well as increased pressure on his growing brain. Parker also has Midface Hypoplasia, which is where the upper two-thirds of the face does not grow normally causing an abnormal appearance, dental problems and possible sleep apnea issues as well. He also has Complex Syndactyly. This where both hands and feet are webbed mostly because the bones in the tips of the digits are fused. He also has cleft palate that has to be corrected surgically as well.
Parker recently returned from Dallas where he had surgery to give him nine fingers and 10 toes.
LaTisha Stringfellow is 34 years old. She is a two-year breast cancer survivor. She now has been diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. She has five children — ages 14,11, 8 and 6-year-old twin girls.
The team consists of players: Ethan Boggs; Ethan Bruson; Paxton Burney; Jacob Davis; Daniel Evans; Tanner Gray; Omari Griffin; J'Keedrion Hill; Moss Kennedy; Jonte Lee, Jackson Ramsey; Braylen Ross; Marcus Ross Jr.; Randell Traylor; Evan Williams; Spence Taylor. Head coach is Emanuel Hill. Assistant coaches are Mike Kennedy and Montae Johnson
Letoshia Ross, mother of player Marcus, said the team wanted to help a person in need from their community, so they contacted the American Cancer Society to find someone who would benefit from their fundraiser.
"We particularly wanted to help a child, but they didn't have record of a child with cancer. But we did find one who is very needy, living with a very rare syndrome," Ross said.
They decided to split the proceeds from their fundraiser to help two people.
"They boys worked really hard … they put their uniforms on and they all had pink socks for breast cancer awareness and stood at red lights on Friday with their parents with their little, pink buckets and their signs," Ross said.
– by AP/ Reporter Scott Rogers with The News-Star
