FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Last week was the first time Kelyn Rowe had ever been hospitalized – he spent three nights at Mass General with an infection in his small intestine – but the 24-year-old New England Revolution midfielder has certainly spent his fair share of time visiting hospitals.
Rowe is a constant presence at the Revolution’s monthly visits to Boston Children’s Hospital, participating in everything from karaoke to Halloween parties to finger painting – anything to put a smile on a young patient’s face for an afternoon.
But Rowe’s involvement in childhood cancer awareness doesn’t end there. Through his own involvement with the Jessie Rees Foundation and in conjunction with the Revolution, Rowe began “Kelyn’s NEGU Crew” last season, a program that invites young cancer patients to Gillette Stadium for an unforgettable game-day experience.
That’s why Rowe is so excited about Major League Soccer’s “Kick Childhood Cancer” initiative, which raises both funds and awareness during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
“I’m so glad that not only our team, but MLS in general has put so much time and so much effort into it,” Rowe said. “We put a lot of time into our youth programs, whether it be the soccer end of things or the school end of things. To take it one step further, it’s huge for me.”
Saturday night’s meeting with Sporting Kansas City will serve as the Revolution’s Childhood Cancer Awareness match, with features like gold nets and corner flags, gold ribbons on players’ jerseys, a gold element to the captain’s armband, and a gold theme throughout Gillette Stadium.
Many of Rowe’s own efforts will also coincide with Saturday night’s match, as it will mark the final “Kelyn’s NEGU Crew” for the 2016 season, and Revolution players will wear a NEGU Crew t-shirt specially designed by Rowe during warmups.
“I think the Revs, for this game especially, have put together a great program,” Rowe said.
In addition to “Kelyn’s NEGU Crew,” many childhood cancer survivors and patients will be special guests of the Revolution at Saturday night’s match, taking part in a procession and the rally tunnel. For Rowe, giving those patients an opportunity to visit Gillette Stadium is the most important part of the initiative.
“It just gives kids hope. That’s what you want. It gives kids a chance to be a kid again,” Rowe said. “We have all these support bases around them; they have me, they have the fans, they have the team. It’s an experience that they’ll never forget, and that’s what you want.”
On Saturday night the Revolution Charitable Foundation will be collecting party supplies for The Confetti Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides birthday party kits for children who spend their birthdays in the hospital.
Fans are encouraged to bring paper plates (9” round or square), paper cups (9 oz.), paper napkins (luncheon size), baker’s twine, stickers, crayons (8-pack), wooden spoons and wooden forks for donation. All donations can be made at Gillette Stadium gates.
For more information on The Confetti Foundation, visit their web site HERE.
