Okanagan minor football league takes to turf for one of their own

KELOWNA – Minor football league players and their families rallied for one of their own on Sunday. Their teammate, Carter Milaney, was recently diagnosed with cancer. As the 10-year-old battles his lymphoma at B.C. Children’s Hospital, on game day, it was his team that was cheering him on.

“He’s in the hospital and he’s on our team and if one teammate in hurt or gone, we always like to play for them,” says teammate Jonas Kruschel.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He's in the hospital and he's on our team and if one teammate in hurt or gone, we always like to play for them," says teammate Jonas Kruschel.

Milaney played for the Kelowna Lions peewee football team.

“He can’t be on the field but he’s got another fight to take on and we just want him to know that he’s got the support of not just his team, the Lions, but all of minor football,” says Assistant Coach, Brent Kruschel.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He can't be on the field but he's got another fight to take on and we just want him to know that he's got the support of not just his team, the Lions, but all of minor football," says Assistant Coach, Brent Kruschel.

Milaney’s parents and sister are by his side at the hospital in Vancouver.

“He’s largely unaware of what he went through and he’s just upset that he’s not playing football today,” said his father, Darren Milaney on Sunday.

In spirit, his teammates are standing by his side as well, hoping for Milaney’s return to the sidelines soon.

“We really miss [him] and it would be awesome to have [him] back,” says teammate Ethan Irvine.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We really miss [him] and it would be awesome to have [him] back," says teammate Ethan Irvine.

The football league is raising money to help the Milaney family pay for medical costs. Parents of some of the players organized a bake sale at the Kelowna Lions’ first playoff game on Sunday against the Kelowna Riders.

“It’s sort of a grassroots way to raise some funds for the family; they’re going to be away from home for at least two months so we just thought we could try to support them financially,” says bake sale organizer Patricia Howorko.

Win or lose, the team went into the game knowing they’d achieved a victory: bringing cheer to their sick teammate from afar.

“For the first time since he’s been in hospital, he’s aware of what his friends and teammates are doing so we were able to FaceTime with the team at the game on [Sunday],” says Darren Milaney.

“That was the first smile I’ve seen on his face in many, many days.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "For the first time since he's been in hospital, he's aware of what his friends and teammates are doing so we were able to FaceTime with the team at the game on [Sunday]," says Darren Milaney.</p><p>"That was the first smile I've seen on his face in many, many days."

Milaney was diagnosed with lymphoma last week.