VOD: Florida honors a sick child with a memorable trip to Gainesville
Grab a box of tissues, because today’s Video of the Day is a little bit of a tearjerker.
Florida’s video team produced a short profile on a 9-year-old boy named Gavin Lambert, who is a big Florida fan struggling Friedreich's Ataxia, a degenerative neuro-muscular disease.
The Gators invited Lambert to be an honorary captain for the season opener against Idaho — made him his own jersey and everything — but unfortunately, the game never got played because of inclement weather.
Members of the Florida’s marketing and promotions department learned about Lambert’s story during the Tampa Bay Sports Commission’s annual Sneaker Soiree where Lambert was honored.
Lambert was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia when he was 5 and as he continues to age, the disease will start deteriorating his muscle functions and motor skills. So, Lambert has spent the past years running triathlons and playing soccer and football, things the disease will prohibit him from doing in the future.
Sadly, the disease also shortens the lifespan of the afflicted.
It’s unfortunate that Lambert never got to get on the field and be honored by the Gator crowd. Perhaps Florida can have Lambert out for another game that actually gets played.
For more Florida news, visit InsideTheGators.com.
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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
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