Lauren Hill dies at 19 after fight with mind cancer

Lauren Hill touched a nation along with her wish to play for Mount St. Joseph's women's basketball crew, even as she battled an inoperable brain tumor.

Her unravel, spirit and courage have been celebrated Nov. 2 when she realized her dream at Xavier university's Cintas core. Cheered on with the aid of a bought-out crowd of 10,250 and a tv audience, Hill scored the first and last basket of the Mount's 66-fifty five victory over Hiram college.

She passed away Friday on the age of 19.

Mount St. Joseph's will hold a celebration and prayer carrier on its campus to honor her.

"we're ceaselessly grateful to have had Lauren grace our campus along with her smile and decided spirit," stated Mount St. Joe president Tony Aretz.

Hill death was stated through a couple of celebrities, together with LeBron James, who wrote a series of tweets.

The Indiana native stated on the sport her purpose was is to discover a therapy for cancer. Hill was once identified with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma quickly after her 18th birthday. The rare type of mind cancer as a rule affects young children ages four to 9.

"when I used to be identified I take into account type of feeling lonely due to the fact that no person understood. And now that more people find out about this story and the realization of DIPG. I'm so happy that persons find out about it now and that we will get some research going and confidently to find that home run cure for melanoma," Lauren stated.

"And although i'm almost always not going to be round to look it, it'll help numerous humans. And that's why we need to keep staying with this and no longer finish it with this game, and preserve aiding research."


An announced $forty,000 was raised the day of the sport for The cure begins Now foundation and pediatric cancer research. Overall, her nonprofit basis has helped to raise more than $1.5 million for melanoma study.

"by means of Lauren's fundraising and advocacy efforts, she now not simplest grew to be a highlight on the lack of funding for melanoma research, however she most most likely has emerge as a beacon guiding researchers for years to come," The treatment begins Now co-founder Brooke Desserich said.

Dr. Mariko DeWire, Lauren's physician at Cincinnati children's clinic scientific core, mentioned fundraising has allowed medical professionals to gain knowledge of DIPG more intently within the last five years. The condition is incurable.

DeWire defined what HIll persisted bodily on the basketball game – that loud noises affected her steadiness and brilliant lights afflicted her. The ahead wore sun shades and headphones on the bench and earplugs during. None of it stopped her from having a memorable day in the brief time she played, or gracefully accepting a halftime award from legendary Tennessee basketball coach Pat Summitt.

"As you can find, Lauren is robust. She was once going to rock it, and she or he did," Dr. DeWine mentioned. "She did more than rock it."

The NCAA granted an exemption for the sport to be performed ahead of agenda so she would take part. It was once an emotional day for Lions teach Dan Benjamin, who mentioned Hill dedicated to the Mount in October of 2013 and instructed the employees forty nine days later that she had the tumor.

Instruct and participant bonded immediately, and then the crew followed swimsuit.

"the 2 largest factor we wanted to accomplish is team and team chemistry, and Lauren helped us try this. However alongside the best way she's made numerous our women grow to be very mature, which is apparent. That's what you always wish to do. You want your children to have an understanding of what lifestyles's about," Benjamin mentioned.

"And here alternatively of me educating them, it was once Lauren teaching them. She's made a exceptional affect on these young ladies. I suppose they'll do not forget this existence lesson forever and optimistically they bring about it out and aid her carry the mission in their possess lives."


The #Layup4Lauren initiative benefitting The remedy starts Now used to be additionally a hit. Challenges were issued for people to spin five occasions and try a layup with their non-dominant hands so they knew what it felt like for Lauren to play. Bengals gamers Andrew Whitworth and Andy Dalton have been among the many first to take the undertaking; San Antonio Spurs assistant educate Becky Hammon and Denver Nuggets protect Randy Foye additionally took phase.

Hill sat along with her mom, Lisa, and father, Brent, in the Nov. 2 publish-sport press convention at Xavier and admitted she did not comprehend how many individuals she had touched. Lisa Hill felt awestruck.

"i'm not even definite how all of this occurred," Lisa Hill said. "it is undoubtedly potent to see Lauren chase after her dream of playing basketball and come to be a voice for DIPG, and simply taking her job really severely and giving that 110 percent. I don't know that either one of us might be any prouder of her. And we love her so much."

said Brent Hill: "I think at present i am generally the proudest father in the world. No longer that i have never at all times been, but it surely's just that so much more suitable. In simply the earlier couple weeks it can be been effective with the entire help from all people around the nation. And we simply hope and pray that we can continue this ride and aid these youngsters coming down the street, since we've received to stop it."


Lauren, who has a brother, Nate, and sister, Erin, known as her tuition debut "potent." It used to be, she stated, the satisfactory day she'd ever had.

Nevertheless it wasn't her handiest day in collegiate books. She made a right-surpassed lay-up in the Mount's Nov. 21 sport against Bethany. Hill played in four games and scored 10 features earlier than her situation pressured her to stop taking part in.

She was honored at nearby physical activities, from a university of Cincinnati females's basketball recreation to a Cincinnati Cyclones time out, and used to be featured on a Wheaties field and a NBA are living 15 quilt. She also struck up a friendship with Bengals player Devon still, whose young daughter, Leah, is scuffling with cancer. Lauren surprised the defensive tackle with a signed jersey Nov. 20.

Hill used to be chosen to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic conference first-group after the season.

"This award is being presented to Lauren in cognizance of her braveness and outstanding leadership," HCAC Commissioner, Chris Ragsdale said. "Lauren has been a tremendous proposal and position model for all pupil-athletes across the nation. She has shown via her management and dedication how one individual can truly make a difference. -AP,UStoday