The Inspirational Lauren Hill

Today's blog was written by Kevin Byrne.  Kevin is a senior at the University of Notre Dame majoring in marketing in the Mendoza College of Business.  Kevin is a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching Course taught by Play Like a Champion founder Professor Clark Power and program director Kristin Sheehan.  Kevin is also a middle distance specialist on the Notre Dame Track and Field Team.

Lauren Hill never imagined her college basketball career would have this big of an impact.

On her 18th birthday, Lauren committed to Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati to continue her basketball career.  She received terrible news soon thereafter when she learned that she had a brain disease called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPG) and was given less than two years to live.  Recently, an MRI showed that the tumor on her brain had progressed and that she most likely would not make it until the end of the year. 

Her love of the game and her desire and courage to play one last game has inspired countless people to send their support and praise for Hill’s cause.  On November 2nd, Hill and her Mount St. Joseph teammates opened up their season against Hiram College at Xavier’s Cintas Center.  The 10,250 tickets for the game sold out within 30 minutes.  The game received an NCAA exemption to be moved up to November 2nd from November 15th to accommodate Hill.  Hill’s positive outlook about her terminal diagnosis has already earned her the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, which is normally given out to a player or coach at the Final Four in April. 

Celebrities and athletes like Mia Hamm, Richard Sherman, Andy Dalton, and Randy Foye have all shown their support for Lauren Hill.  As an athlete that has lived her life as a champion, she has inspired many people.  Former WNBA player Sheryl Swoops said that Hill is “...the true definition of a fighter, warrior, and competitor.”  A foundation has been set up called Layup4Lauren  where people can accept the challenge by performing a layup with their non-dominant hand which is how Hill feels while playing basketball with DIPG and then donating to brain cancer research.

Lauren Hill is an inspiration to countless people and her determination to play the game she loves  is a reminder to all of us to never give up.