A Win One Day, and a Smile the Next!!
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Saturday night the Grizzlies and their fans celebrate a victory over the Indiana Pacers. Sunday afternoon the Grizzlies celebrate by putting smiles on the faces of St Jude patients and their families who are residing at the Ronald McDonald House throughout this holiday season. As part of the Memphis Grizzlies Season of Giving, Matt Barnes teams up St. Jude patient ambassador Nick London to spread Christmas cheer to some people that could definitely use cheering up this time of the year. Nick London was diagnosed with cancer and his been in treatment at St. Jude for over a year. Matt Barnes founded his athletes Vs Cancer foundation when he lost his mother to cancer in 2008. Matt Barnes and Nick London met at Grizzlies Tip-off luncheon. Nick says he got the idea for his toy drive from his mom. “Last year when I first got diagnosed and I started feeling better, My mom told me I needed to do something. I sat around and when I really thought about all the kids I saw at St. Jude and other places that didn’t get to go home for the holidays and I had the luxury of going. So I decided maybe we should do a toy drive.” I asked him how he felt about having NBA star Matt Barnes assist him with the St Nick Toy Drive and he said “It’s great to have somebody who has a fan base and knows the game. It’s really great to see him want to give back as well.” Matt Barnes lost his mother to cancer in 2007 and founded his Athletes Vs Cancer foundation in 2008. “We’re going on our 7th yearn now and it’s really starting to pick up.” Barnes also mentioned that Athletes Vs Cancer recently teamed up with Athletes Vs Cancer to send cancer survivors to college. Matt Banes even bought his kids along to participate. ” I think it’s great for them to understand how important it is to give back and brighten other peoples days.” I was also able to speak with Malayna Rose, who serves as the Development Coordinator for the Ronald McDonald House. This is what she had to say: “So many families won’t have opportunities to go home and spend the holidays with their loved ones. They will be here and have the opportunity to have gifts for their families next week. We are thankful to the London Family and Matt Barnes for being able to provide this for our families and the community.” Nick London is the son of former Tiger standout Paris London. Paris shares that “It means a lot to me. I know what it’s like to get that news that your son is diagnosed with cancer. I know how it feels to think ‘What do we do from here and how do we get through it. To be able to come here and bring some joy especially at Christmas time means the world to me and it really means the world to my family.” Matt Barnes and company are back in action Tuesday night in Philadelphia to take on the struggling 76ers. TheGrizzlies return to their home court two days after Christmas to host the next stop on the Kobe Bryant farewell tour. For ticket information click here.
