CHARACTER COUNTS

Larry Fitzgerald sends his wishes to high school player battling cancer

Feb 9, 2018, 3:04 PM

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)...

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

From battling cancer, to having an amazing comeback and now getting a shout out from his idol Larry Fitzgerald, Rio Rico’s senior running back Ricky Perez has had a roller coaster of a year.

Perez was diagnosed with cancer in May last year and even though the future looked grim, the running back promised to make a return to the sport he loved for his senior season.

Before being diagnosed with cancer, Perez had a breakout junior season where he racked up a total of 1635 yards, averaging 181.7 yards a game, while scoring 15 touchdowns. The running back was also being scouted and received interest from Division I schools.

Only a few months after being diagnosed and going through chemotherapy, Perez played with a snap restriction and scored an emotional touchdown.

“When I get back to Arizona I gotta come visit you,” Fitzgerald said in the video. “God bless you and your family.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

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Larry Fitzgerald sends his wishes to high school player battling cancer