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Behind The Stripes

Hanna Clegg

By Atlanta United FC

September 11^th, 2023

Hanna Clegg is an encyclopedia on guinea pigs.

Ask the nine-year-old anything about the animal, and she’ll tell you what you need to know. She knows how to take care of them, how active and social they are. She’s even well-versed on what they like to eat, naming timothy hay, guinea pig pellets, carrots, cherries and mint as some of their favorite snacks.

Guinea pigs are just one of Hanna’s many interests. The bright, sweet, and observant nine-year-old loves all animals, mostly cats and dogs. She has a pet dog, a chocolate lab named Bear, and often visits a local pet store that houses hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and bunnies and allows visitors like Hanna to get them out and play with them. She loves playing outdoors and exploring. Whenever she does, her parents say “nine times out of 10 she’s digging for worms or digging for lizards.” Hanna also likes soccer and describes herself as a goal scorer on the pitch. Her parents confirm that she’s a strong passer and excels at setting up her teammates with through balls, a description very reminiscent of Atlanta United’s own Thiago Almada.

“She’s pretty spicy on the field,” her dad says.

These interests are a few things that keep Hanna going during her difficult journey as a pediatric cancer fighter. On December 29, 2022, she was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoid leukemia. Hanna is currently undergoing treatment at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.

She has the support of her family. Along with her parents, Hanna has three siblings. The family has adopted a few motivational phrases, including “take the next step,” a reminder to keep going, no matter the obstacle ahead. “When I’m afraid, I will call on thee,” has also been one the family leans on.

“That’s one of her key verses that we say,” her mom, Amanda, says. “It’s a verse that has stepped up to become a family motto in our journey.”

Hanna also likes to create art, which is what brought her to participate in Unite & Conquer Cancer, the campaign at Atlanta United dedicated toward raising awareness for pediatric cancer fighters, their families, and the nurses and doctors who treat them. Hanna was selected to design the scarf for Unite & Conquer Cancer month, which is September. It was a task that Hanna admits made her a little nervous at first, but one the talented and passionate young artist absolutely owned and had fun with.

“We were excited because she loves art, so we thought how cool is that going to be to get to go and throw paint around,” Amanda says, before looking at Hanna to add, “I don't let you do that at home.”

The scarf that Hanna designed is full of color. On one side of the scarf is a joyous gold, a tribute to the official color of pediatric cancer awareness month. On the other side, the word “Conquer” appears in gold surrounded by a splatter that features some of Hannah’s favorite colors, blue and purple.

Click here to view photos of the Unite & Conquer Cancer scarf designed by Hanna

The final product, which was the club’s scarf of the month for August and is available for sale Team Stores at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Atlantic Station, came together in the Design Lab. Hanna partnered with Atlanta United fullback Brooks Lennon, and together they had some fun creating the design. And although the two worked together on the project, it was revealed that Hanna was certainly the one with stronger artistic instincts.

“Brooks had a really cool canvas going, then he added more to it. And it was horrible,” Amanda recalls.

“And he covered it in paint,” Hanna says, laughing. “After that, I sprayed it.”

Lennon’s canvas wasn’t the only part of the process with a lot of paint. Hanna’s younger brother, Jackson, who is eight years old, also got involved. And from there – well, needless to say the activity got a little messy.

“I mean, between them and Brooks, Brooks was getting paint everywhere. It got a little wild,” Amanda says.

“I had paint in my hair,” Hanna says, giggling.

Atlanta United made it a memorable day for Hanna and her family in the Design Lab and presented her with the final product at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. And when Hanna saw the scarf she designed in person, she happily approved. Then, her family took some pictures of her holding it up in the garden behind the hospital.

“I like it,” Hanna says. “They did a good job.”

Atlanta United will hold its annual Unite & Conquer Cancer match on September 23 during the club’s home game against CF Montreal. Atlanta United's commitment to uniting and conquering cancer will be evident throughout the match, including gold elements and an on-field ribbon on the pitch before kickoff. The team will also be wearing the Kick Childhood Cancer pre-match tops.

Atlanta United has been holding events throughout the year to raise awareness and show love to those affected by pediatric cancer. They hosted a group of Owen Klemme Conquer Kids at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground on July 20. The Conquer Kids were able to tour the facility, visit the locker room and meet several Atlanta United players. For the team’s match in Seattle on August 20, the club created a dream experience for Noah McNinch, a 12-year-old pediatric cancer fighter who was diagnosed with leukemia last year.

Hanna will have the opportunity to join other fighters like her and see her scarf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Unite & Conquer Cancer match. Depending on her treatment plan, she’ll be able to attend the match and participate in some of the special activities planned for the day – and see a swarm of yellow scarves in the stands.

Footnotes

Story by Sandy McAfee / Photos by Kyle Hess & Atlanta United

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FootNotes

Story by Sandy McAfee / Photos by Kyle Hess & Atlanta United

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