GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Kaitlyn Leonardson can now call herself a Phoenix, as the 13-year old from Sturgeon Bay, Wis., signed on to be a special member and supporter of the Green Bay women's basketball team this season.
Kaitlyn is thrilled to become the newest Phoenix to join the roster. When Kaitlyn was one-year old, she was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia which is a genetic disease of a defect in proteins that are responsible for DNA repair. This can lead to many different issues but the most common is bone marrow failure. She gets a bone marrow aspiration once a year. With all Kaitlyn has battled through, she truly epitomizes what it means to be a fighter and is sure to be an inspiration to her teammates.
“We would like to welcome Kaitlyn Leonardson, her parents Shawn and David, and her brother Nathan to our Phoenix Women's Basketball Family. Thank you to Team IMPACT for making this signing possible. With all of the things Kaitlyn has already battled through, we know she is a fighter and will inspire our players to do the same. The players are thrilled to have Kaitlyn as a new teammate and are looking forward to exciting things to come on and off the court with Kaitlyn as a Phoenix,” head coach Kevin Borseth said.
According to Kaitlyn, her favorite number is 14. Her favorite color is turquoise but she also likes hot pink and lime green. Kaitlyn is gluten intolerant, but her favorite foods include bacon, baked beans and most of all chocolate. She loves to watch Spongebob Squarepants as well as Pokemon. Kaitlyn is part of the Irun4 group and has a very special and amazing runner named Sharon who she really looks up to. She loves to draw, loves medical facts, supplies and shows that she has learned a lot about through growing up with many doctor appointments and procedures. She is also learning to cross country ski with her new pair of skis! Kaitlyn, her parents and her brother Nathan (15) cannot wait to get this experience started and to meet with the team.
ABOUT TEAM IMPACT:
Team IMPACT is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Team IMPACT children are drafted on to college athletic teams, local to where they live and, in effect, become official members of the team from Draft Day through to Graduation. At Team IMPACT, they envision a future where the lives of children facing the hardships associated with adverse issues and events will have access to collegiate team-based support in order to significantly enhance their quality of life in a number of ways, including; socially, psychologically, physically and academically. Team IMPACT also strives to provide collegiate teams with increased levels of awareness, sympathy and support for the medial and disease communities. Established in 2011, Team IMPACT has already matched over 570 children with collegiate teams, at over 270 institutions in 42 states, improving the quality of life of hundreds of courageous children and touching the lives of over 20,000 student athletes. For more information, please visit: www.goteamimpact.org.
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