Seven-year old cancer patient meets with biggest presidential fan
Seven-year old Jack Hoffman became an Internet sensation when he made a 69-yard touchdown run at Nebraska’s spring football game, but now he is a national treasure as President Obama has become one of his biggest fans.
Jack was diagnosed with brain cancer early in 2011, and though his young life has been filled with much hardship, he’s shown tenacity and spunk as he has continued to beat he odds. Shortly after his diagnosis he was befriended by Cincinnati Bengals running back Rex Burkhead. Their friendship lead to the creation of “Team Jack” which both promotes awareness and raises money for cancer research.
Their work has caught the eye of President Obama, and he did what he could by reaching out and inviting Jack, his family and Burkhead to a visit with him at the White House. Jack got to meet with the president for a 15-minute visit in which he was given a brand new football.
Jack responded as most seven-year-olds would, simple and straight to the point.
“I thought it was awesome,” Jack said.
Jack’s father was a bit more verbose in his appreciation and praised the president’s reaching out as it meant a raised sense of awareness for Jack’s illness and for many in a similar situation.
“It was just such a great opportunity for us to visit him and raise national awareness for pediatric brain cancer,” he said.
