Ad Disclosure
Young Tennessee fan diagnosed with leukemia gets his wish, meets Butch Jones
Published:
After defeating cancer a year ago, 5-year-old Neyland Pickel from McMinn County, Tenn., is once again faced with the challenge of beating back his leukemia. This time around, young Neyland is getting support not only from his hometown of Englewood but from Tennessee head coach Butch Jones.
During Neyland’s latest trip to Children’s Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee’s coach paid the huge Vol fan a surprise visit. According to WRCB-NBC, Neyland has ‘always had a wish to meet Butch Jones.’
“It’s hard to see a child go through it, but he’s accomplished it once, he can do it again,” Sgt. Nick Purkey of the Englewood police department said to WRCB-NBC. “He’s my hero.”
Englewood has adopted the slogan Neyland Strong in their efforts to support the young man’s second recovery from cancer.
Neyland’s chemotherapy treatment is ongoing and he will soon need a bone marrow transplant to survive.
More information on Neyland’s treatment as well as opportunities to help the young man’s fight can be found here.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
