6-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Cheers UNC Team at World Series

When David Hill was fighting leukemia at UNC Hospital in 2023, the UNC baseball team became more than just his favorite players. They became his friends, visiting him during chemo treatments, playing games, and making sure he never felt alone.

"That meant a lot to me, because I wasn't just alone, I was with everybody," the now six-year-old said.

David's connection with the team came through Team IMPACT, an organization that matches children facing serious illnesses with college sports teams. For David and his family, who weren't big sports fans before his diagnosis, the relationship transformed everything.

His father Joshua remembers how the baseball players would sit with David during some of his toughest moments. They talked, played, and simply showed up when it mattered most.

"They've cheered me up a ton of times, and I don't know how to pay them back," David said.

After UNC's victory over West Virginia on Wednesday, Team IMPACT decided to give David the ultimate surprise. They flew his entire family to Omaha to watch the Tar Heels take on Oklahoma in the College World Series.

Why This Inspires

This story shows what happens when athletes remember the power they hold beyond the field. The UNC baseball players didn't just visit a sick kid for a photo op. They built a real relationship with David, turning hospital visits into moments of joy during his darkest days.

Their commitment changed David's life and converted his entire family into lifelong Tar Heels fans. Now cancer-free, David gets to cheer on the people who cheered him through treatment.

As the Hill family watches Saturday's game, Joshua hopes the team knows just how much their kindness meant. "We're going to be cheering for them, because I know they've got this," he said.

Sometimes the biggest wins happen off the field.