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UConn pitcher, 6-year-old linked by cancer fights

In this April 20, 2015 photo released by the University of Connecticut, leukemia patient Grayson Hand, center, bumps fists with UConn baseball coach Jim Penders, left, at a ceremony where he signed an honorary national letter of intent to become part of the UConn baseball team in Storrs, Conn. Hand has formed a special bond with UConn pitcher Ryan Radue, who was diagnosed with cancer later in 2015. (Stephen Slade/UConn Athletics via AP) In this April 20, 2015 photo released by the University of Connecticut, leukemia patient Grayson Hand, center, bumps fists with UConn baseball coach Jim Penders, left, at a ceremony where he signed an honorary national letter of intent to become part of the UConn baseball team in Storrs, Conn. Hand has formed a special bond with UConn pitcher Ryan Radue, who was diagnosed with cancer later in 2015. (Stephen Slade/UConn Athletics via AP)

By Associated Press January 14, 2017 1 min read

STORRS, Conn. (AP) – It started as a team effort to help a sick child.

Now UConn pitcher Ryan Radue says the boy from Sturbridge, Massachusetts, showed him how to approach battling cancer.

The Huskies welcomed 5-year-old leukemia patient Grayson Hand to the team as part of program called Project Impact, which links teams and seriously ill children. Grayson got to hang out with the players and be introduced at the annual alumni game with the rest of the team.

About five months later, Radue received his own cancer diagnosis. He missed the entire fall of 2015 and the 2016 season.

Ryan said there were moments of anger, exhaustion and feeling sorry for himself. But then he would think of Grayson.

He became closer with Grayson and the Hand family. Grayson’s father said the player and the boy became role models for each other.