CHARLOTTE — Superfan Logan Hale’s hero was Carolina Panthers Christian McCaffrey. But the child never got to meet the running back.
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Logan was a patient at Levine Children’s Hospital and passed away after battling leukemia when he was 13-years-old.
The two will be linked through Christian McCaffrey foundation’s newest initiative.
The Logan Project brings new gaming systems to children’s hospitals, such as Levine’s.
McCaffrey said he was honored to carry out one of Logan’s dreams.
“As someone who’s stuck in a hospital, going through the things they’re going through, the physical pain, the mental pain, the emotional pain, being able to take that away for a little bit of time,” McCaffery said. “It’s an amazing idea from a kid who was experiencing it.”
Logan was buried in a No. 22 Panthers jersey, which is McCaffrey’s number. The Panthers star paid for Logan’s funeral and was compelled to carry on the boy’s legacy.
McCaffrey and teammates Jeremy Chinn and Shaq Thompson met children being treated at Levine’s on Monday. The children, now, through the Logan Project, have a chance to play video games, such as Madden, Minecraft and FIFA.
“Sometimes you forget how much of an impact that you can leave on somebody,” McCaffrey said. “And the irony is he’ll end up leaving an impact on way more people than I ever could and so I’m just super grateful to be a part of his story.”
Logan’s mother, Kristina Hale, said she is grateful that her son is forever linked to McCaffrey.
“We say he picked the right role model in his heart,” the mother said. “He knew what a kind and amazing human being Christian McCaffrey is. He sensed it.”
Levine Children’s Hospital is the first facility that McCaffrey will deck out with new gaming systems. He has plans to expand The Logan Project to all 32 NFL cities and beyond.
(Watch below: Tepper, McCaffrey drop in on Zoom classes, surprise kids, teachers with game tickets)
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