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More than an All-American

On February 9, Katie Collier found out that she had received a coveted spot on the 2012 McDonald’s All-American Games roster.

As part of that, she’d be helping to raise money for RMHC. Katie and her family beamed with pride, not only for the athletic honor, but for another reason.

Around the arc and under the hoop, there is no doubt that Katie is an all-star. With more than 1,000 career points and more than 800 career rebounds, Katie is a threat to offenses and defenses alike. And with offers from the University of Washington, UCLA and Gonzaga, her excellence is universally acknowledged.

But beyond academic and athletic prowess, being chosen as an All-American means something more. For Katie, it took competing with an opponent far fiercer than the ones in her Seattle Christian Schools League – Cancer, in particular, APL (acute promyelocytic leukemia.) Fighting, achieving a 95% chance of victory, and inspiring others has taken on new dimensions for Katie.

“My grandma died of cancer. My mom is a cancer survivor. And my high school coach, Bill, was just diagnosed with terminal cancer,” says Katie. “They’ve shown me examples of courage and perseverance far and above what I had known before. It’s my turn to be an inspiration.”

Although Katie did not need to stay at a Ronald McDonald House in Seattle because her family lived close to the hospital, over the past six months, she met children and families, traveling to receive expert care, staying at the House. Katie couldn’t imagine not having her five siblings, mom and dad by her side to support her, cheer her on, and give her strength to fight. And she could see the tremendous value in the House – in the support, vital resources, and compassionate people within the walls of the beautiful facility right near the hospital.

As a McDonald’s All-American, participating in a game that benefits RMHC, Katie will get a chance to volunteer at one of the Houses in Chicago and to give back to a cause that she knows well. As an All-American, she will be a part of the support system present within the walls of a Ronald McDonald House. And she feels tremendous pride inspiring others to fight through the pain, smile through the struggle, and defy the odds.

Comments (1)|(Hide)

  • miranda

    15/03/2012 1:00pm

    people like this inspire me so much,,, all of the elder women in my family have had breast cancer and i have been donating to the funds for breast cancer ever since i knew what it was, i like to hope that by the time im old enough to get breast cancer that there will be a cure. this girl is very respected in my eyes from here on out thank u for helping and supporting these kids katie!

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