Crofton, Maryland teen to celebrate recovery from cancer in London
BALTIMORE, MD – The Craig Willinger Fund (CWFund) proudly announces the selection of 18-year-old Caroline Ray of Crofton, Maryland, as our newest honoree. Caroline will travel to London, England, to see Chelsea Football Club face Bournemouth on December 30.
Caroline gained the attention of NCAA Division I soccer programs as a Crofton High School varsity freshman. After a prolonged period of knee pain that didn’t go away despite physical therapy and chiropractic care, she was referred to an orthopedic knee specialist and received a diagnosis of grade 3 osteosarcoma in May 2023.
Ray received chemotherapy and underwent a high-risk, 19-hour operation to reconstruct her knee with the goal of returning to soccer. After 18 months on crutches, she saw her dream become a reality when she returned to the pitch as a senior this past October. Caroline hopes to leverage her cancer experience and passion for the game into coaching and a career in healthcare and pediatrics.
“Caroline’s passion and optimism are infectious,” shared CWFund chairperson Emily Agueda. “We are thrilled to help Caroline celebrate all that she has overcome with this trip to London and historic Stamford Bridge.”
The Craig Willinger Fund, formed in 2009, seeks to improve the lives of children and young adults stricken with critical illnesses by providing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to experience world-class soccer—both domestically and abroad. Since 2010, seventeen CWFund honorees have traveled to South Africa, Barcelona, Milan, London, Madrid, New York City, Kansas City, Orlando, Washington D.C., Manchester (UK), Leicester (UK), and Brazil, including two World Cup tournaments and a UEFA Champions League Final. Visit www.cwfund.org for more information.