Teen Soccer Star’s Heartfelt Mission: How One Boy Is Lifting Up Women Fighting Cancer
His heart for others turned into a powerful movement of hope and healing
When Brady Krysiewicz asked how he could be a leader, his dad’s answer sparked a new passion in the boy’s heart. Now, he helps thousands of people fighting cancer! Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.
While attending a Virginia summer camp for soccer goalkeepers, 9-year-old Brady Krysiewicz listened intently as a coach spoke to the kids and challenged them to be leaders — both on and off the soccer field.
Later that day, while hanging out in the hotel pool with his father, Brady asked, “Dad, what does being a leader mean? How can I help out?”
“Well, son, many people suffer from terrible diseases,” Anthony Krysiewicz told Brady. “You could help sick people.”
The wheels in Brady’s mind turned as he thought of two of his great-aunts who had died from breast cancer, and had never had the chance to meet their great-nephew.
“How about I raise money for women suffering from breast cancer?” Brady asked his dad.
Making a difference
Not long after, Brady launched Keeper for a Cure, a charity project that, for the first few years, raised money by hosting tailgates and merchandise booths at Sporting Kansas City soccer games a few times each year, as well as at a local brewery.
There he sold koozies, scarves and pins while visitors gathered to chat, learn more about Keeper for a Cure and donate through a scannable link. The funds supported nonprofits that help breast cancer patients and their families — such as the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation.
As he got older, Brady — now 15 and a sophomore in high school living in the Kansas City area, where he plays soccer for the Sporting KC Academy — continued feeling a tug on his heart to keep helping. What if we start supporting people with other types of cancer? he wondered.
Now, every dollar of profit goes to his chosen beneficiary for the past three years — Gilda’s Club of Kansas City, which offers free support, education and programs to patients with various kinds of cancer. Since founding the charity six years ago, Brady has proudly raised nearly $21,000.
“We’re super grateful that he’s interested in raising funds and awareness for us,” says Amanda Trout, program director for Gilda’s Club. “Brady has so much passion. He is amazing!”
Anthony and his wife are proud of their son, who has always put other people first. “We are very much in the backseat on this — he’s doing all the driving,” Anthony says with a big smile.
Brady says thinking about the struggles cancer patients face is what keeps him motivated. “It hurts me knowing that they’re sick and need treatment,” says Brady, who hopes to keep the charity going after graduation. “But when I see all that I’ve accomplished, it shows how much we can do to help others!”
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
