10%

Unite & Conquer Cancer Month

September 2022

By Atlanta United FC

October 2^nd, 2022

At Atlanta United, we’re united in the fight against childhood cancer.

September was pediatric cancer awareness month, which Atlanta United recognized with its month-long Unite & Conquer Cancer campaign. Throughout the month, the club led initiatives to spread awareness, provide support, and create memories for childhood cancer survivors and fighters.

The September scarf of the month portrayed a Unite & Conquer Cancer theme. Davis Cobb, a T-Cell Lymphoma survivor, designed the scarf.

Davis was invited to the Training Ground for a tour of the facilities and to design the scarf. He received help from two special guests, Atlanta United midfielders Ozzie Alonso and Emerson Hyndman.

Read Davis’s story here.

In addition to the scarf, Atlanta United created a special design for their Unite & Conquer Cancer match on September 10. On the BLVCK kits, players wore custom-designed numbers. Jacob Bannister, a pediatric cancer fighter from Marietta, patterned the numbers himself.

Atlanta United was the only MLS club to feature a custom design on the jersey numbers.

Read Jacob’s story here.

Earlier this summer, Atlanta United hosted the Owen Klemme Conquer Kids Field Day at Aurora Day Camp. Children participated in a lot of fun outdoor activities, including water slides and inflatable trampolines.

First team players Brad Guzan, Josef Martinez and Ozzie Alonso made appearances and joined some of the activities.

The league launched a special designed pre-match top for September. The shirt, bearing the color gold to represent the international symbol for childhood cancer, was designed for the league-wide Kick Childhood Cancer campaign that aims to raise awareness for pediatric cancer.

Atlanta United wore this gold top before every match throughout September.

To unveil this year’s tops, Atlanta United asked the Klemme family to be the models. Their youngest son, Owen, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma and went through a long battle with cancer. Owen passed away last year with his family at his side.

Owen and his family are beloved members of the Atlanta United family. Adrian, Kate, London and Henry Klemme were the first to model the tops for the club. Atlanta United renamed their program Owen Klemme Conquer Kids to honor Owen's life and continue his legacy.

Read more about the photo shoot.

Read the Klemme family's story.

For one of the first events for Unite & Conquer Cancer month, Atlanta United invited the Owen Klemme Conquer Kids to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, Ga.

The participants went on a tour through the facilities, including the locker rooms, fields and training rooms. They were able to watch first team train. After training, Atlanta United players greeted the families on the sideline and signed soccer balls for the kids.

Four Owen Klemme Conquer Kids had a “dream experience” with their favorite player from Atlanta United.

Caleb Wiley went with Carter Ferrel to a trampoline park, Luiz Araújo joined Valentina Guiful on a trip to the Georgia Aquarium, Machop Chol played soccer at the Children’s Healthcare of Training Ground with Jake Vickers and Miles Robinson took Layla Lincoln to Zoo Atlanta.

The day created a lot of warm memories and respite for families and children affected by pediatric cancer.

On September 10, Atlanta United hosted Toronto FC for the club's annual Unite & Conquer Cancer match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Match day featured many gold elements. On the field, the nets and corner flags were gold. The captain bands sported the KCC logo along with the matchday banner displaying a ribbon. The team balls also included more gold color.

Players also wore the league's Kick Childhood Cancer pre-match top during warm-ups. Their kits featured a yellow ribbon and the custom numbers designed by Jacob Bannister.

Atlanta United's commitment to uniting and conquering cancer was easy to see throughout matchday, especially during the pre-match festivities.

Jacob served as the Honorary Captain for the match and had the chance to see the jersey numbers live with the players standing next to him. Davis was the Golden Spike hitter. Wearing the scarf he designed, Davis climbed up the capo stand with swagger to hammer in the spike and kick off the match.

Over 200 pediatric cancer fighters, survivors and their families were also invited to form a human ribbon on the field. Attendees forming the ribbon then got to stay and watch the match.

The starting XI for Atlanta United was introduced by the Owen Klemme Conquer Kids before the match.

The special visitors at Mercedes-Benz Stadium proved to be good luck as Atlanta United put on a show. The team scored four second-half goals and earned a 4-2 victory in front of a home crowd.