Jayhawks visit Children’s Mercy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Players and staff from the Kansas men’s basketball team spent part of their Tuesday morning in the pediatric unit at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

“There’s nothing that makes any adult hurt or feel more than seeing a young child suffer,” KU head coach Bill Self said. “In coming over here to Children’s Mercy with our players, we will all be uplifted. “

Through the American Cancer Society via its Coaches vs. Cancer initiative, the KU contingent split up into groups and spent a little more than an hour visiting pediatric cancer patients and their families.

“So many times I think people look at us for inspiration for certain things,” said Self, who visited with patients and families in the Oncology Unit. “It’s hard in what we do as entertainment can mean so much to a family in times they are dealing with things no one should be going through.”

Kansas basketball continually participates in Coaches vs. Cancer activities throughout the year. KU joins many other college teams in the 3-point Challenge in which fans help raise money by donating for every 3-pointer made by the team. Additionally, Self partakes in the annual American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer Season Tip-off. The 12th annual event, featuring head coaches from KU, Kansas State, Missouri and Kansas City, will be Sept. 29, 2019, in Kansas City. For more details on how to participate one can go here.