Soccer Giving Hope to Cancer Patients

Han Eun-ae (18), currently undergoing leukemia treatments, visited Suwon World Cup Stadium on Christmas day where celebrating songs were played.

At the Puma Charity Soccer Match 2006, supported by the Hong Myung-bo Scholarship Foundation, with a pale face, Han did not let down the soccer ball with the signature of Hong Myung-bo, assistant head coach of Korea’s national soccer team, who saved her life.

Han went to the stadium along with some 10 children from low-income families and 30 leukemia and childhood cancer patients who are receiving treatment at the National Cancer Center in Ilsan, Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province.

“Anti-cancer medicine costs a lot, and he helped us. I was really sick, but I can fight against cancer now,” said Han, smiling, expressing her gratitude for Hong.

When she was three years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which was once cured. Yet, at 15, she got a relapse, and forwent high school education. Income from her mother, a daily worker, and a physically-challenged father was not enough to pay for her enormously expensive treatments. Being a relapsed patient, she was low on the list of social welfare fund beneficiaries.

The scholarship foundation lent a helping hand to Han. The foundation holding fourth charity soccer match this year has granted funds to leukemia and childhood cancer patients in partnership with Community Chest of Korea. Since October 2004, she has received support and recovered her health. She passed the general education development test and took the College Scholastic Ability Test.

“I want to study social welfare in college and offer help to others,” said Han.

At the stadium with 7,000 spectators on December 25, the “Love Team” with Hwang Sun-hong (Chunnam Dragons) and Park Chu-young (FC Seoul) beat the “Hope Team” with Eom Ki-hoon (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) and Baek Ji-hoon (Suwon Samsung) by 6 to 5. The scholarship foundation is committed to donate 200 million won this year.

bluesky@donga.com