Capistrano Valley High School’s football team hosted their third Courageous Kid at their annual homecoming game last week. This year’s honorary Captain and Courageous Kid is James Janosky from Chino, CA. James is 8 and ½ years old and was diagnosed with leukemia on July 29, 2014. He loves math, he has the In-n-Out secret menu memorized, has met both Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry, and is looking forward to seeing the new Star Wars movie later this year. During the homecoming football game, James was escorted onto the field with the other captains and take part in the coin toss, with the crowd cheering for him in the background.
When asked what motivated his team to get involved with the Jessie Rees Foundation, Coach Bucher answered, “We were looking for a community service opportunity and one of our parents Debbie Valdez had Super Cade speak at her school where she is a teacher. She eventually brought the idea to me about working with the Jessie Rees Foundation, I did a little research and it sounded like it would be a great opportunity. It’s been a blessing ever since.”
The football team first came to visit the JoyFactory and stuff JoyJars with James, his mom, and his brother Luke. Before the team began stuffing JoyJars in the Joy Factory, they all watched Jessie’s video where they got to learn more about Jessie and hear from James’ mom about his journey. During this time, the team had the opportunity to learn a little more about James, the struggles that he has been faced with, and the milestones he’s overcome! James’s mother Rebecca and her family discovered the Jessie Rees Foundation during the September Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month where the Jessie Rees Foundation had the – Going Gold Month Campaign.
Graham Hess, a senior, said, “I think with having our previous Courageous Kid, Kurt, it brought our team together and it put into perspective how cancer affected the lives of all involved. It touched me a lot, but I think it helped our team bond by making JoyJars and getting to know Kurt & his family, and we hope to do the same with James and his family.”
These amazing kids also collected crazy socks for older kids fighting cancer and stuffed JoyJars this summer. We are so inspired by kids helping kids!
The Jessie Rees Foundation is grateful for the opportunities that Capistrano Valley High School’s football team has provided for Courageous Kid James!
We NEGU for you James!!!!!