Keiser football mom, breast cancer survivor honorary captain for home game vs. St. Thomas
WEST PALM BEACH — The coin flip, a ritual before every football game, took on special significance Saturday evening at Keiser University.
Robin Age, whose son CJ Gilmore plays for the Seahawks, served as an honorary captain for their game against St. Thomas University to help observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Her three-year ordeal with breast cancer included chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and additional rounds of immunotherapy.
Although she will receive ongoing preventive treatment, she is proud to call herself a survivor.
"I'm rooting for the Keiser Seahawks and I'm rooting for all the individuals out there who are breast cancer survivors and those who are going through the process," Age said before the Seahawks' 21-14 victory over the Bobcats.
For the coin toss, Age was joined at midfield by fellow survivor Shannon Burrows, a member of the Promise Community Advisory Council. The Promise Fund of Florida is a nonprofit organization committed to helping women overcome financial and cultural barriers to improve health equity and reduce late-stage breast and cervical cancer deaths.
The coin toss ceremony recognized Age's endurance and perseverance in fighting a disease that took a heavy toll on both her and her family.
"This is a special day for me because it's being played in a very important month, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month," she said. "And of course it's special to me because my son plays for Keiser University."
Age, a U.S. Army veteran, said her cancer journey began when she discovered a mass in her left breast as part of a routine self-exam in September 2020. Gilmore, a freshman defensive back for the Seahawks, helped take care of her while attending Lake Nona High School near Orlando.
"I could not have gone through that process without him and my husband (Michael)," she said. "It was tough for CJ, emotionally draining for him, just to see his mom in that situation where I couldn't get up sometimes. ... CJ understood that I couldn't be at some games, that I couldn't be every place he needed me to be. But we made it through as a family and I am so proud of him because here he is today."
Age said her son "understood the assignment" when she was diagnosed with cancer.
"He knew obstacles and challenges are going to always come your way," she said. "Playing football taught him that. ... You have to think outside the box and find a way to overcome it. He saw me do it throughout my entire military career. What doesn't break you, as my parents used to tell us, will make you stronger."
Gilmore mostly a spectator for the Seahawks in 2023
Gilmore has been mostly a spectator this season while more experienced defensive backs get most of the playing time. On Saturday, he watched the Seahawks (3-2, 2-0), ranked No. 9 in the NAIA, build a 21-7 halftime lead and hold on to defeat the Bobcats (3-3, 1-1) in a Sun Conference game.
Gilmore describes his mother as "the true definition of a caretaker, someone who's very loving ... it's more than words can explain."
But as positive as Age tried to stay during those arduous three years, there were days when hope was hard to come by, when she could never have dreamed of walking to midfield to flip a coin before one of her son's football games.
More: Road warriors: How Keiser football carved its path to the national championship
"Cancer is one of those things that you never know which direction it's going to take you," she said. "There were days when I woke up and didn't think I would make it through it. I was thankful to have some of the best medical personnel to make the process a lot more at ease for me, and I'm grateful for my family members and friends who got me through this.
"I trust in God, and here I am today, to attest to the fact that I am a survivor."
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Keiser football mom, breast cancer survivor honorary captain for home game vs. St. Thomas
