Cleburne’s girls and boys basketball home games with Red Oak this Friday will have every team going for a win—for children facing long days of hospitalization.

                The Cleburne Yellow Jackets and the Red Oak Hawks have united in collecting for the Legos for Little Warriors project, established by the late Brody Nelson and carried on by his sister, Emily, who is now a freshman at CHS. The goal of Legos for Little Warriors is to provide Lego kits, one of Brody’s passions, to help patients while away the long hours between treatments and during extended stays at Cook Children’s Medical Center and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

                “Emily serves as our varsity team manager,” Lady Jackets Head Coach Rosalind Lawrence said. “We can’t think of a better community service project than to join the initiative she is carrying on in Brody’s memory. When Red Oak heard what we were doing, they asked if they could take part and we are thrilled to have them on board. It’s going to be a united team effort in collecting Legos for children who need some support during their long stays in the hospital.”

                Fans are asked to bring Legos to Friday’s games, which will open at 5 p.m. in the Jeff D. Cody Arena and Auxiliary Gym with the girls and boys JV teams, followed by the girls varsity and ninth grade boys games at 6:15. A brief ceremony to present the Legos to Emily and her parents, Ty and Courtney Nelson, will precede the boys Varsity/ninth grade girls games at 7:45.

                “It’s very exciting that girls basketball can take part in this,” Varsity Team Co-Captain Malea Whiteside said. “It’s really important to us to help out in the community and in this case, be there for kids. That’s what this is all about—making them feel better.”

                “The Legos we collect will go to kids who are spending long periods in the hospital,” Co-Captain Bridget Cockran said. “This will hopefully keep their mind off their illness or medical condition. A lot of these Lego kits will go to children who are being treated for cancer, and that’s really hard. Hopefully, this will help keep them entertained and give them something new and fun to do.”

                Lady Jackets Co-Captain Hannah Marion said she was happy to see the continued participation in the Legos for Little Warriors project.

                “I’m a senior and this program has been around since my freshman year,” she said. “It’s been great to watch it grow. We have had the pleasure this year of Emily Nelson being on our team and sharing in her excitement in all the Legos we believe will be coming in on Friday, and what has already been collected.”

                “We want to contribute in any way we can to Brody’s cause,” Marion said. “He might not be here, but his legacy is living on. It’s wonderful that all our teams are coming together for this.”

                For questions or more information, email Coach Lawrence: rlawrence@c-isd.com or Jackets Head Coach Jeffrey Bush jbush2@c-isd.com

Cutline

Friday’s home basketball games will be a team effort involving both Cleburne and Red Oak to benefit the Legos for Little Warriors project established by the late Brody Nelson. The Lady Jackets—and the Jackets—invite fans to bring Lego kits that will be donated to Cook Children’s Medical Center and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for patients who are undergoing extended stays due to treatments or medical conditions. (Courtesy Photo)