June 16, 2007 - Houston Dynamo Players Team up with Nick Doize to Fight Cancer

Stuart Holden, Eric Ebert, Jordan James and Michael Chabala of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo teamed up with the Texas Children’s Cancer Center to raise funds for children like Nick Doize, of Katy, Texas and others who are treated at the Center. The Nick Doize 6 v 6 Invitational Soccer Tournament was held on Saturday June 16th in Houston, It was a huge success, raising nearly $18,000.

All proceeds from the tournament went directly towards the fight against cancer. Half of the proceeds went to the Nick Doize family and the other half to the Texas Cancer and Hematology Center, where it will help thousands of other children. The Texas Cancer and Hematology Center is one of the United States’ leading hematology centers and treats more pediatric patients than any other hospital in the country.

Nick Doize, fourteen, was stricken with High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in February, 2006. After receiving ten months of treatment at the Cancer Center and achieving remission, Nick suffered a relapse in February 2007. He will soon undergo a Bone Marrow Transplant as the next phase of treatment for this aggressive disease. The Nick Doize 6 v 6 Invitational Tournament was organized as a way to bring people together to raise funds for his treatment and that of countless others.

Holden, Ebert, James and Chabala are part of the Athletes for Hope network of athletes who are working to create change in the world. After speaking with these players about their passions and ambitions off the field, Athletes for Hope contacted the individuals responsible for organizing the Nick Doize 6 v 6 Invitational Tournament to arrange for the Dynamo teammates to attend.

The tournament was held from 9:00-3:00pm at Bear Creek Soccer Fields in Houston, TX and featured 43 teams made up of players from age 8-16. Each team paid a $185 entrance fee, the total of which was donated to the fight against cancer. Each team played three games of two 20 minute halves and concessions and t-shirts were available throughout the day. There were no winners or losers in the tournament, as the real goal was to bring people together to have a good time and raise money for the fight against cancer.

Everyone was a winner when the Dynamo players arrived to meet the teams and fans. They spent two hours signing autographs and taking pictures and they expressed their admiration for the strength and inspiring spirit of the kids. They also presented Nick with a personalized Houston Dynamo jersey signed by the entire team. The Houston Dynamo are strong supporters of both the Texas Children’s Cancer Center and of Nick and countless other children’s courageous efforts to beat cancer.

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