Parents of Hoosier college basketball player Lauren Hill accept ‘Best Moment
ESPN announced on June 1 that it was honoring Jenner with the Ashe Award, and only belatedly announced on July 14 that it would offer a small tribute to Hill at the ESPY Awards.
Noting her powerful celebrity platform, the 1976 Olympic decathlon champion vowed “to do whatever I can to reshape the landscape of how transgender people are viewed and treated”. On November 2, Hill realized her dream as she was cheered on by the 10,250 attendees and televised audience, scoring the first and last basket of Mount St. Joseph’s 66-55 victory over Hiram. It’s the legacy that she leaves behind and it’s something that we will remember her for.
The Los Angeles Times reported that a possible reason for the honoring of Jenner derived from a deal between ABC and Jenner.
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry introduced Hill before a touching video tribute aired.
Hill raised more than $1 million for pediatric cancer research.
The Mt. Saint Joseph basketball player passed away in April from a rare brain tumor, but not before impacting millions around the world and raising awareness for DIPG. The Division III women’s basketball player just wanted to play one game in college. Tickets sold out in less than an hour.
Five-year-old Leah could not make the trip because her immune system is still too weak. LeBron James tweeted how much of an inspiration she was.
Hill’s mother previously told USA Today, however, that she did not think Hill “would have had a strong opinion on [the award] either way”.
Hill’s parents, Brett and Lisa, accepted the the special honor on stage in Los Angeles. “Please don’t wait until you’re personally affected by cancer to start kicking cancer’s butt”. “She was pretty down-to-earth”. She would have never been judgmental or harsh or anything like that.