It is always great to hear about college basketball players who volunteer at local schools, visit children in hospitals, and participate in other fantastic community events. At the University of Kentucky, these good deeds are passed down the line and the Wildcats continue to make differences in the lives of children for years.
Kentucky is not only rich in basketball tradition, but has a great history of community service as well. The latest example involves a special 16 year-old boy from Nicholasville, Kentucky, who dreams of becoming Kentucky’s next walk-on. He’s also the heart of a foundation that hits home for him and his family.
When he was two years-old, Reese Kemp was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, around the same time he lost his father. Cystic fibrosis is a disease that causes buildup of mucus in the lungs and digestive system — this disease is life-threatening and currently has no cure.
Kentucky’s basketball players knew they could make a difference. In 2009, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe made a visit to Reese after one of his surgeries.