Women's Soccer Signs Team IMPACT’s Mariana Abad
October 4, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Student-Athlete Academic Support Service
BOSTON –The Boston University women's soccer team, in partnership with the nonprofit organization Team IMPACT, named 12-year-old Mariana Abad as the newest member of the program on Friday afternoon at a press conference held in the Case Center.
Mariana, an East Boston native, was diagnosed at a young age with a serious heart condition and received a heart transplant back in 2016. As a member of the women's soccer team, Mariana will be present at practices, games, team dinners and more, serving not only as a teammate, but also as an inspiration.
Mariana comes to Boston University through Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that connects kids facing serious and chronic illnesses to college athletic teams across the country. Through Team IMPACT, children with chronic illnesses are drafted onto local college athletic teams and become an official member of the team to support the child's physical, social and emotional needs.
"We are all thrilled to have Mariana join our team," said Boston University head women's soccer coach Nancy Feldman "We first met Mariana a few weeks ago and she's already had a positive impact. We are all looking forward to getting to know her better, so today is a special day for us. Team IMPACT is wonderful organization doing important work and we are so happy that they were able to bring Mariana and our team together."
Friday's announcement marks the fourth time the Boston University Terriers have partnered with Team IMPACT, as they previously signed Dylan Flynn (age 16 at the time) in the fall of 2012.
On Nov., 5, 2018, the BU men's basketball team added seven-year-old T'Andre Cephas Harris of Dorchester to the team while the men's lacrosse team drafted five-year old Patrick Mahoney of Jamaica Plain on March 25, 2019.
About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Team IMPACT has more than 1,000 teams across the country waiting to be matched with children, ages 5-16, who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic illness and who could benefit from becoming a member of the team.
For more information about Team IMPACT visit www.goteamimpact.org
Mariana, an East Boston native, was diagnosed at a young age with a serious heart condition and received a heart transplant back in 2016. As a member of the women's soccer team, Mariana will be present at practices, games, team dinners and more, serving not only as a teammate, but also as an inspiration.
Mariana comes to Boston University through Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that connects kids facing serious and chronic illnesses to college athletic teams across the country. Through Team IMPACT, children with chronic illnesses are drafted onto local college athletic teams and become an official member of the team to support the child's physical, social and emotional needs.
"We are all thrilled to have Mariana join our team," said Boston University head women's soccer coach Nancy Feldman "We first met Mariana a few weeks ago and she's already had a positive impact. We are all looking forward to getting to know her better, so today is a special day for us. Team IMPACT is wonderful organization doing important work and we are so happy that they were able to bring Mariana and our team together."
Friday's announcement marks the fourth time the Boston University Terriers have partnered with Team IMPACT, as they previously signed Dylan Flynn (age 16 at the time) in the fall of 2012.
On Nov., 5, 2018, the BU men's basketball team added seven-year-old T'Andre Cephas Harris of Dorchester to the team while the men's lacrosse team drafted five-year old Patrick Mahoney of Jamaica Plain on March 25, 2019.
About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Team IMPACT has more than 1,000 teams across the country waiting to be matched with children, ages 5-16, who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic illness and who could benefit from becoming a member of the team.
For more information about Team IMPACT visit www.goteamimpact.org
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