The USF men's soccer team, in partnership with Team IMPACT, welcomed ten-year-old Mario Duran from Zephyrhills, Fla. to its roster in 2018.
Team IMPACT's mission is to connect children fighting severe illnesses with collegiate teams in order to raise their spirits. Mario was diagnosed in 2016 with a rare form of mouth cancer called sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma.
Mario was signed to the team on August 21st in a public Draft Day at the Yuengling Center. He signed a special letter of intent with Coach Bob Butehorn present. Mario attends practices, games, bonding events, and dinners with the team.
Bay Area news cameras captured the magic at the Yuengling Center's Fifth Third Bank Arena Club as head coach
Bob Butehorn announced the addition of courageous 10-year-old Mario Duran. Butehorn's Bulls partnered with Team IMPACT to sign the Zephyrhills, Fla., native nicknamed "JuJu," who battles a rare form of mouth cancer called sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma
.
"I have conversations with my team all the time about dealing with adversity and understanding what you have. Mario just embraces everything he has and our kids are feeding off that," Butehorn said. "This kid is No. 1 a special kid, but No. 2 he doesn't see himself as a special kid. He sees himself as a kid with something I've got to deal with and I'm just going to enjoy my life."
Mario certainly enjoyed sitting at the press conference table with Butehorn and his family during an event that continued USF's strong relationship with Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization headquartered in Quincy, Mass.
"Are you excited to be a part of our family?" Butehorn asked Mario.
"Yeah," Mario replied.
"This is going to seal it. Team IMPACT, you, us. Big Bulls, all these guys," Butehorn said, gesturing to the entire men's soccer team.
Once the official letter of intent was signed, Mario addressed the crowd that included the entire USF men's soccer squad.
"I want to say thank you for letting me be a part of your team," Mario said. "I'm glad that I am part of the men's soccer team for the Bulls."
Now that he's an official member of the team, Mario is welcome to attend practices, games, team dinners, bonding events and anything else that involves the program. Mario was diagnosed in 2016 with sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma
, a rare cancer of the nasal cavity and/or paranasal sinuses, but Butehorn said he's simply thinks of him as a brave boy who will be a great addition to the Bulls.
"It's fun to have him," Butehorn said. "We just see him as a teammate."
