Baltimore, MD – The Craig Willinger Fund is thrilled to announce Kathryn Hudson of
Clarksville, MD as its first honoree. Kate and her father will travel to World Cup in South
Africa to see the U.S. Men’s National Team play England on June 12.
Kate has dedicated 16 years of her life to playing soccer, earning All-County, All-Metro and
All-State honors as a goalkeeper at River Hill High School in Columbia, MD, as well as at
Division I University of Richmond. She played her final year of eligibility at Virginia
Commonwealth University, where Kate is in the process of working towards a master’s
degree in social work. While living her dream playing soccer, Kate’s most amazing
accomplishment is overcoming a cancer diagnosis in February of 2004. Diagnosed with
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, she continued playing soccer through five months of chemotherapy
and radiation treatments, finding a partner to her dream in Dr. Joseph Wiley, a pediatric
oncologist at Sinai Hospital, who tailored Kate’s treatments around her soccer schedule.
Kate stepped up to the role of mentor, when she was introduced to 12-year old Amanda
Post, another Sinai cancer patient and aspiring soccer player from Columbia. Despite
having the busy schedule of a Division I student-athlete, Kate stayed in contact with
Amanda throughout her treatment and through the JV soccer experience at River Hill High
School. After Amanda’s cancer relapsed, Kate chose to run a marathon in honor of her
friend and cancer buddy, an aspiring marathoner. Kate completed the San Diego Rock &
Roll Marathon as a member of Team In Training, having raised $11,000 in honor of her
friend Amanda. Amanda lost her battle with cancer on May 17, 2009, just two weeks before
the San Diego Marathon.
“We could not have found a better candidate than Kate as the fund’s first trip recipient,” said
Craig Willinger, cancer survivor and founding member of the Craig Willinger Fund. “Kate
exemplifies what we are all about: living an extraordinary life, despite the obstacles that fall
in your way.”
The Craig Willinger Fund, formed in 2009, seeks to improve the lives of children and
young adults stricken with cancer by providing a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience
world-class soccer – both domestically and abroad and is actively searching for their next
honoree. For more information, visit www.cwfund.org.