Woodstock Boy, 10, Organizes Football Game To Fight Cancer

A 10-year-old Woodstock boy is getting an early start on the habit of helping others in need.

Jameson Wharton, a fifth-grade student at Little River Elementary School, has organized a football game in which players will wear pink and pay $5 to play.

The proceeds of the game, which will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, will go to the American Cancer Society. The game will take place at Dupree Park at 513 Neese Road in Woodstock.

Danielle Wharton, Jameson’s mother, said her son carries around a notebook given to him by his grandmother. The notebook, she said, is ”filled with ideas.” When she stumbled upon one idea involving pink jerseys, ribbons and names of football teams, she asked her son about the drawings.

Wharton said her son came up with the idea of holding a football game to help find a cure for cancer.

“I always teach him (that) when he has his mind set on something to do it,” she added. “He is very passionate about this.”

About a dozen players are slated to participate in the game, most of which include his eager friends from school.

The initiative has been brewing inside the 10-year-old since June, but Wharton said she convinced Jameson to hold off on putting the idea forward until later in the year.

“I just figured October would be a perfect time because it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” she added.

Jameson’s dedication isn’t just geared towards extracurricular activities. At Little River, Jameson makes straight A’s, is a member of the Student Council, Safety Patrol and has also received the school’s Principal Award.

Not only has cancer taken the many lives he’ll never know, but it’s also impacted some of his family members. With that in mind, Wharton said she her son is hoping those who love football will come out to play and “pay for a good cause.”

“People should attend because they can watch a good football game and they would be helping doctors find a cure,” Jameson added. “They would get joy out of it because they (are helping) someone in need.”

Photo: Danielle Wharton and her son Jameson, 10. Credit: Danielle Wharton