Utah Blaze Hold Football Clinic to Support Distance for Davis Fundraiser
Published on July 19, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Utah Blaze News Release
SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Blaze will hold a football clinic to support the Distance for Davis Fundraiser for aplastic anemia patient, Davis Cox. The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 7 at Davis High School from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. in Kaysville, Utah. The fundraiser also includes a number of other activities, such as a 5K race, silent auction, live entertainment, concessions and games.
Blaze coaches and players will be in attendance and assist the youths in the football clinic through various drills. They will also be available for autographs immediately following the event.
Davis, a 14-year-old Kaysville Junior High School Student, contracted severe aplastic anemia in March 2010. Once, a healthy football and baseball player, Davis now experiences life-threatening symptoms ranging from retinal bleeding, two-hour nose and gum beds, fevers, severe bacterial infections, and a depleted immune system.
Since his rare diagnosis this spring, Davis has had more than 30 blood and platelet transfusions, multiple tests and hospital stays, and several surgeries to aspirate bone marrow and carve infection from his sinus tissue and bone. Treatment restricts Davis from coming into contact with people, which prevented him from campaigning for ninth-grade class office, attending school, going outside, and playing sports. Side effects from the medication cause mouth soreness and require a soft diet, which is a life adjustment for a healthy 14-year-old appetite. The high doses of numerous medications tax his kidneys, heart and liver. He has had several reactions to the platelet transfusions including breathing difficulties, rashes and tremors.
He continues to amaze hospital staff and those around him at his unwavering strength during several setbacks that came his way, related and unrelated to the infections and surgeries. His ability to have a patient, gentle strength has been an inspiration to many who know Davis.
The community has rallied around Davis and his family, with classmates electing him as their class officer for the upcoming year; holding bake sales; helping with household duties and sending well wishes through the Internet, phone calls and notes.
Affecting only three in one million Americans each year, aplastic anemia is a disease of the bone marrow, where the marrow stops making enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets for the body. People like Davis, with severe or very severe aplastic anemia, are at risk for life-threatening infections or bleeding. Treatment includes bone marrow or cord blood transplant and immunosuppressive therapy -- drugs that weaken the immune system.
For more information and to reserve your spot in the Utah Blaze Football Camp please visit www.daviscoxfundraiser.com
The Blaze continue on the road next week to face the Dallas Vigilantes on Saturday, July 24 with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. (MT). The following week, the Blaze will face the Alabama Vipers in their final game of the season on Saturday, July 31 with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. (MT). Both games can be viewed through NiftyTV and will be broadcasted live on 1280 The Zone. The 2011 Utah Blaze Season Ticket Renewal process is no underway. Call 888-99BLAZE to reserve your seat in the action or information can be found at www.utblaze.com.
Arena Football League Stories from July 19, 2010
- Blaze Blown out by Rattlers, 20-48 - Utah Blaze
- Utah Blaze Hold Football Clinic to Support Distance for Davis Fundraiser - Utah Blaze
- Tampa Bay Storm to Host "Go Green Night" on Saturday, July 24 - Tampa Bay Storm
- Talons Clinch Division Title - Tulsa Talons
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