Soccer for Hope Camp Creates Awareness and Raises Funds for Kids With Cancer.

Everyone is invited to the Soccer for Hope Inspiration walk on Friday, August 21, 2015 at 9:30 am. Meet at the Thomas Potacki Field, 27301 La Paz Rd, Mission Viejo 92691 and walk the pristine Oso Trail with Soccer for Hope.

For 18 years, Soccer for Hope has been raising money and awareness for childhood cancer. The camp is being held at the Mission Viejo World Cup Center (Potacki Center), 27301 La Paz Rd, Mission Viejo 92691 from August 17-21, 2015 from 9 am to noon each day.

In 1998, Oliver Wyss was treated at the City of Hope for Aplastic Anemia which included a bone marrow transplant. Aplastic anemia is a disorder in which the bone marrow fails to make enough blood cells. Jamie, his wife and girlfriend at the time was by his side. She was his caregiver.

Oliver Wyss is a former professional soccer player, head coach at J Serra High School in San Juan Capistrano and coach of the Orange County Blues, a professional soccer team in OC.

Initially, Oliver and Jamie Wyss formed the foundation as a way to give back to those who saved Oliver’s life, however it wasn’t until five years later that they had kids and it became even more personal.

Tragically, for the founders of Soccer for Hope, both of their young children Hudson and Abella were diagnosed with Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, a rare cancerous brain tumor.

Through their personal experiences, the Wyss’ are driven to create awareness about pediatric cancer and give families support. They founded Soccer for Hope in 1998 and have raised more than $2 million.

This week more than 200 boys and girls ages 5 -14 years old are participating in the Soccer For Hope Camp. Each day a different college men’s and women’s soccer team is coaching the kids. Some of the college teams participating are Loyola Marymount University, Cal State University Fullerton, UC Irvine, Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal Poly Pomona. The kids are learning valuable soccer skills.

Cancer statistics for children is daunting. One in every 330 children will develop cancer before 19 years old. In fact, cancer is the number one cause of death in children, yet pediatric AIDS receives four times the funding. Did you know nearly 3,000 children and teenagers will die from cancer each year?

No parent should every have to hear that your child has cancer or ever lose a child to cancer. No kid should every have to endure the pain and suffering of cancer.

For more information, to register, volunteer or donate, please call 949/716-7700 or go to their website www.soccerforhope.org. See you there!