AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College Head Cross Country/Track and Field Coach Pete Gratien announced the addition of a special member to the program as 10-year old Cole Huson of Hamburg, N.Y. was formally introduced during a signing ceremony that immediately followed the Daemen Duels cross country meet yesterday afternoon.
Cole comes to Daemen through a partnership with Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that aims to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. Core to their model is harnessing the power of teamwork by matching these courageous kids with college athletic teams. Team IMPACT children are drafted onto local college athletic teams and, to the greatest extent possible, become an official member of the team for the duration of their treatment and beyond.
"We are very excited to be adding Cole to our team," said Gratien. "Cole is a remarkable boy and is full of energy, just like many of the student-athletes on our roster. Our student-athletes have already enjoyed their interactions with Cole, and my hope is that Cole has an equally rewarding experience as a member of our team."
Cole is the son of Nicholas and Liz Huson. Despite experiencing health complications since infancy, Cole is a very compassionate child. He's even started his own charity called "Coffee from Cole" to help the families of children being treated in local hospitals. Cole is excited about joining the Daemen cross country/track and field program, and his new teammates are eager to show him how to be a Wildcat.
The Daemen cross country/track and field program is the third to announce the addition of a Team IMPACT child in 2021. Last spring, both the men's and women's volleyball teams introduced new team members. In July, Daemen Athletics entered into a formal partnership with Team IMPACT, committing to maintaining or increasing its current level of Team IMPACT participation.
Team IMPACT is the only national nonprofit that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Team IMPACT also serves as a therapeutic program that complements a child's medical treatments, as they develop relationships and skills that help them complete the full circle of healing.
Since its inception in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched over 2,000 children with collegiate teams at over 700 institutions in 49 states, reaching over 60,000 student-athletes — all of whom come together to ensure no child is sidelined.
If you know a child who may be interested or to learn more how to get involved, visit www.teamimpact.org for more information.
Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
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