ARCATA, Calif.---  Despite finishing up the semester and preparing for their final exams, members of the Humboldt State University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) raised $1525.00 for Make-A-Wish’s Workout for Wishers Program.  All proceeds went to Make-A-Wish and supported wish kids like Keannu, a former student-athlete who had his athletic career cut short due to a critical illness. 

 SAAC, headed by co-president and volleyball player Macy Thomas, did a workout that coincided with Keannu’s treatment regimen. 

 “I am so ecstatic about how our Workout for Wishes effort turned out,” said Thomas.  “This is a cause I am super passionate about and it was so amazing to see our team and community effort in raising money and working out for Keannu.  I want to give a huge shout out to our local Crossfit gyms for working with me and hosting their own Keannu workout and fundraising events. I also want to thank all of the HSU teams and coaches that were happy to participate, everyone crushed this workout and it was so inspiring to see our teams and gym communities tackle this together. I'm already looking forward to doing Workout for Wishes next year!” 

 The teams that did the Workout for Wishes were women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer, women’s rowing, men’s soccer and some of the Humboldt State club sports.  Humboldt State’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports, Jane Teixeira, and head athletic trainer Shannon Childs also took part in the workout. 

 Thomas also had several of the fitness clubs in the Humboldt County area participate including Sweat Panda and Humboldt Crossfit.

 The Lumberjacks worked out on behalf of Keannu who had his athletic career cut short because of his critical illness. 

 “We want to give a huge thank you to Humboldt State SAAC and Humboldt State Athletics for participating in Workout for Wishes,” said Kelsey Wetzstein, Corporate Development Manager

Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area.  “This was a new program we tried out during COVID, and Macy (Thomas) and SAAC did an awesome job running with the idea and making it their own. We look forward to working with them on Workout for Wishes in the 2021-2022 school year!”

 Keannu was a 4.0 student, a quarterback for his high school football team and a star wrestler.  He was the big man on campus, but a brain tumor and subsequent stroke from surgery turned his life upside down.

 After his surgery, Keannu underwent weeks of chemotherapy and yet another surgery before the tumor was fully removed.  He also was in a coma for several weeks.  Keannu woke up with short-term memory loss, an inability to walk and speech difficulties.  All Keannu wanted through everything he endured was a chance to play football again with his friends again.

 Make-A-Wish and virtual reality company EmergeXR teamed up to create a football game experience that could bring Keannu back onto the field and grant his one true wish. In that virtual game, Keannu was reminded that he is a hero in so many people’s eyes.

 To watch or participate in one of the Lumberjack Workout For Wishes programs, go to Humboldt State Lumberjacks’ social media accounts at @HSUJacks.

 The Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which is the primary student-based group that contributes to policy-making for the division, established the Make-A-Wish partnership in 2003 and has since become one of the foundation's largest and most consistent contributors.

NCAA Division II has raised more than $6.2 million toward granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Almost 740 "wishes" have been granted through Division II contributions. These wishes can serve as a game changer in children's fights against their illnesses, helping them feel better, and in some cases even get better.

On behalf of the Make-A-Wish staff and families we serve, thank you for joining this effort.