
Although Syracuse fell to Tennessee, 45–26, in the Aflac Kickoff Game, a much more meaningful win was happening back in Syracuse, New York. From her treatment room on Saturday afternoon, an 11-year-old superfan named Judy rang the bell after completing her final round of chemotherapy.
Judy was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in December 2024. What her family first believed to be nothing more than a mosquito bite turned out to be a rare and aggressive soft tissue tumor. The news was devastating, but Judy approached each stage of treatment with courage and perseverance well beyond her years.
One afternoon, while Judy and her family were fishing, they received a surprise call from SUNY Upstate Medical University inviting her to spend a day with the Syracuse football team. The following week, just before the season opener, Judy and her family visited the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. They were welcomed warmly by Otto the Orange before sitting down with Head Coach Fran Brown in the team’s film room, surrounded by Syracuse’s trademark orange and blue.
During the visit, Coach Brown presented Judy with signed gear and, most notably, a special companion—her very own My Special Aflac Duck. This robotic therapy duck is designed to help children express their emotions during cancer treatment. While the toy is programmed to display a range of feelings, Judy herself has been a shining example of hope and resilience. Despite enduring painful side effects, repeated injections, surgery, and the emotional strain of her diagnosis, she has remained positive and inspiring to all around her.
Coach Brown also shared words of encouragement with Judy, speaking about the role of faith in his own life. Judy, touched by the gesture, gave him a bracelet he proudly wore on the sidelines during the Aflac Kickoff Game. The bond didn’t end there—Coach invited Judy’s family to dinner in the players’ cafeteria, closing the special day with laughter and shared moments.
Judy wasn’t the only child to feel the support of the Orange community that weekend. Other pediatric patients in Syracuse also received a My Special Aflac Duck, along with messages and signed gifts from Coach Brown.
These heartfelt connections were made possible through the Aflac Kickoff Game and the dedication of Aflac Nation. Joe Calarco, Aflac’s Northeast Regional Sales Coordinator, played a key role in coordinating with local hospitals to bring joy to patients. Additional Aflac team members were also present to celebrate Judy and stand by her family.
As the longest-running neutral-site college football game on opening weekend, the Aflac Kickoff Game is about more than just football. In partnership with Peach Bowl, Inc., Aflac emphasizes community support through its “Kickoff for a Cause” program.
Since Aflac became the title sponsor of the event, more than $1.2 million has been raised to support pediatric cancer awareness, aligning with National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month every September. This year also marks a milestone—30 years of Aflac’s dedication to advancing childhood cancer care and research, with contributions exceeding $191 million to date.
Judy was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in December 2024. What her family first believed to be nothing more than a mosquito bite turned out to be a rare and aggressive soft tissue tumor. The news was devastating, but Judy approached each stage of treatment with courage and perseverance well beyond her years.
One afternoon, while Judy and her family were fishing, they received a surprise call from SUNY Upstate Medical University inviting her to spend a day with the Syracuse football team. The following week, just before the season opener, Judy and her family visited the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. They were welcomed warmly by Otto the Orange before sitting down with Head Coach Fran Brown in the team’s film room, surrounded by Syracuse’s trademark orange and blue.
During the visit, Coach Brown presented Judy with signed gear and, most notably, a special companion—her very own My Special Aflac Duck. This robotic therapy duck is designed to help children express their emotions during cancer treatment. While the toy is programmed to display a range of feelings, Judy herself has been a shining example of hope and resilience. Despite enduring painful side effects, repeated injections, surgery, and the emotional strain of her diagnosis, she has remained positive and inspiring to all around her.
Coach Brown also shared words of encouragement with Judy, speaking about the role of faith in his own life. Judy, touched by the gesture, gave him a bracelet he proudly wore on the sidelines during the Aflac Kickoff Game. The bond didn’t end there—Coach invited Judy’s family to dinner in the players’ cafeteria, closing the special day with laughter and shared moments.
Judy wasn’t the only child to feel the support of the Orange community that weekend. Other pediatric patients in Syracuse also received a My Special Aflac Duck, along with messages and signed gifts from Coach Brown.
These heartfelt connections were made possible through the Aflac Kickoff Game and the dedication of Aflac Nation. Joe Calarco, Aflac’s Northeast Regional Sales Coordinator, played a key role in coordinating with local hospitals to bring joy to patients. Additional Aflac team members were also present to celebrate Judy and stand by her family.
As the longest-running neutral-site college football game on opening weekend, the Aflac Kickoff Game is about more than just football. In partnership with Peach Bowl, Inc., Aflac emphasizes community support through its “Kickoff for a Cause” program.
Since Aflac became the title sponsor of the event, more than $1.2 million has been raised to support pediatric cancer awareness, aligning with National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month every September. This year also marks a milestone—30 years of Aflac’s dedication to advancing childhood cancer care and research, with contributions exceeding $191 million to date.