7-year-old’s Make-A-Wish granted by Panthers
May 31, 2016, 7:16 PM
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen, left, and Parker Cowherd, 7, of Cornelius, N.C., right, stretch during an NFL football practice in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, May 31, 2016. Cowherd was practicing with the team and his favorite player, Greg Olsen, as part of a Make-A-Wish Foundation event. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
The Carolina Panthers and the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted a wish to seven-year-old Parker Cowherd on Tuesday.
Parker was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in November. His two wishes through the Make-A-Wish Foundation were either to climb Mount Everest or to play football with the Carolina Panthers. He had to settle for the latter of the two.
Parker’s day began by attending a mandatory team meeting, followed by signing a contract with general manager Dave Gettleman. He then got dressed at his own locker and went to practice.
Parker is currently in his fifth of eight 42-day chemotherapy cycles, however he still would not let Panthers tight end Greg Olsen assist him in carrying his helmet to the practice field.
“I said, ‘Want me to carry it?'” Olsen said. “He said, ‘Nah, I got it.’ I said, ‘All right, man. I wish I had somebody to carry my helmet.'”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera believes that the experiences the kids are able to have through the Make-A-Wish Foundation are as important as learning fundamental football. Rivera also notes that these experiences are important for the players as well.
“The big part, first of all, is our players have to understand their responsibility to the community,” Rivera said. “That’s what they get out of it, how significant it is that they do give back to the community.”
The Panthers will bring Parker back as an honorary captain for their preseason finale on September 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
When Parker was asked to end the Panthers practice he had just two words to say.
“Keep pounding,” Parker said.”
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