Alabama’s Sims honored Auburn student diagnosed with cancer during record performance
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — College football fans with a keen eye may have noticed that during the University of Alabama’s 42-21 victory over Florida that senior quarterback Blake Sims wore a small item that was neither crimson nor white.
On his right wrist Sims had on a plastic purple bracelet that bore both “Kayla” and “Joshua 1:7” for the Bible verse: “Be strong and very courageous.”
As first reported by AL.com it was a tribute to Kayla Perry, a 19-year-old diagnosed with neuroblastoma, the most common form of cancer diagnosed for infants and very young children.
However, the two have never met and Perry attends Alabama’s biggest rival.
“Hey guys, you know I’m an Auburn Tiger, but even college rivalries can come together when it matters,” Kayla posted on Facebook on Saturday. “Many thanks to University of Alabama QB Blake Sims for seeing my story, and asking to wear my bracelet this week, and today, especially!”
Sims passed for 445 yards — the most ever by an Alabama quarterback at Bryant-Denny Stadium and second overall to Scott Hunter’s 489 against Auburn at Legion Field in 1969 — with four touchdowns on Saturday. He tied Hunter’s school record for total yards in a single game with 457.
Perry, who grew up in a Birmingham household divided by the rivalry, launched a website to raise funds for pediatric cancer research on Sept. 1 and reportedly received more than $50,000 in donations.
“People always say the players aren’t the ones that are so into the rivalry, it’s the fans,” Perry told ESPN.com. “And I think that’s really true. Sometimes as fans, we get caught up in what team we pull for the games themselves, but the players, they know what’s important and they know when to be rivals and when to be friends.”
Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates wore the same bracelet when the Tigers visited Kansas State last Thursday.
The bracelets sell for $5 and all money goes to childhood cancer research. They can be ordered by emailing openhandsoverflowinghearts@gmail.com
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
