Andrew displayed the passion and desire to make a difference for the rare disease cause when the offensive lineman started the Fordham Chapter of Uplifting Athletes in 2011. What he didn’t know through this work was how important this cause would become when it became personal.
Ty Campbell was not quite three when he was diagnosed with the tumor found on his spinal cord. With a contagious smile, he was a perfect fit. He may have only been pint-sized, but he showed the Fordham football team how to battle with heart. Ty was an inspiration for the team and the Fordham squad was rallying around his cause as they embarked on the 2012 season.
Then came the devastating news that Ty was losing his battle and was headed into Hospice before eventually passing on October 12th, less than two weeks before his fifth birthday. Andrew’s biggest takeaway from this experience was he felt lucky to have met Ty and his loss shook his soul. Knowing he still wanted to be involved in the rare disease cause, despite the pain, and help others was a life lesson he will carry with him for a long time.
