Omaha area teen fighting cancer honored with dream trip to U.S. Soccer World Cup Qualifier
BALTIMORE, MD – The Craig Willinger Fund (CWFund) proudly announces the selection of 17-year-old Mason Ogle of Crescent, Iowa as its 15th honoree. Mason will travel to Orlando, Florida for a matchday experience courtesy of the U.S. Men’s National Team. He will attend a pivotal CONCACAF FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Panama on March 27, 2022.
Mason is a passionate soccer fan who began playing organized soccer as a three-year-old. In 2017, he began to notice pain in his knee but remained focused on a very competitive soccer season that culminated in Mason scoring the game-winning goal in overtime for his team’s championship match. Mason was diagnosed with osteosarcoma shortly after that game and spent the following year undergoing chemotherapy and recovering from limb salvaging surgery.
Unfortunately, Mason has dealt with two recurrences of cancer since his initial diagnosis and has undergone additional surgeries to remove tumors from his lungs. Despite the uncertainty of a healthy future, he is living the life of a busy high school senior. Mason’s extracurriculars include supporting his cross country team as a manager and participating in his school’s drama and improv clubs. He is also finding ways to prove his doctors wrong about never playing soccer again. Mason stays active with his high school team by attending open gym and playing in small-sided scrimmages in anticipation of the spring soccer season.
“We’re excited because our organization is about travel and Mason is going to be our first honoree travel experience since COVID started,” stated CWFund board member and trip chaperone Johanna Agueda. “We can’t be more pleased that long-standing partner U.S. Soccer is able to partner with us for
The Craig Willinger Fund, formed in 2009, seeks to improve the lives of children and young adults stricken with cancer and other critical illnesses by providing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to experience world-class soccer—both domestically and abroad. Since 2010, fifteen honorees have traveled to South Africa, Barcelona, Milan, London, Madrid, New York City, Kansas City, 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.
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FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Emily Agueda
443.739.6875
emily@cwfund.org