A 17-year-old cancer patient was made honorary captain of the Atlanta Falcons during their game against the Carolina Panthers after being given a three-day sporting experience organised by the charity Dream On 3.
Riley Hembree, from Mount Airy, Georgia, met his favourite player, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, before the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, September 20.
Hembree handed Robinson a childhood cancer awareness bracelet, which the player put on before signing the teenager’s jersey and adding a personal message.
The teenager is undergoing chemotherapy and palliative care while battling metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma for a second time.
Atlanta Falcons honour cancer patient during game
The experience began on Saturday at the Falcons’ training facility in Flowery Branch, where Hembree toured the site, met head coach Kevin Stefanski and watched the team’s preparations.
He was also invited to take part in the team huddle. Falcons great Matt Ryan introduced himself during the visit, while team owner Arthur Blank met Hembree at the stadium on game day.
Before kick-off, Hembree was given early access to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and a private shopping trip at the team store. He was later recognised on the stadium’s giant screen as the Falcons’ honorary captain.
Hembree and his family watched the game from the Arthur Blank Suite. Their accommodation, meals and activities were donated by Lanier Islands Resort.
When he is able to take breaks from treatment, Hembree sings with his church worship team and plays Madden on Xbox. He follows Robinson, Drake London and Jessie Bates III, as well as college football.
Dream On 3, a national non-profit organisation that creates sporting experiences for seriously ill children, arranged the visit with the Falcons and local partners.
Details of Hembree’s long-term prognosis and medical timeline have not been released.
