The Gilbert Soccer Club 99 Premier, Select & Classic Girls put together a fantastic event with the help of girls from the 01 and 02 teams by donating stuffed animals to the Andreas Closet Fundraiser at Banner Desert and Gilbert Mercy Hospital. Forty girls, ages 8-11, gathered together to help bring happiness to children who are sick.

Andrea’s Closet began at St. Josephs Hospital and is named for Andrea Brunk, who was only 8 years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Unfortunately, Andrea’s cancer was aggressive and she died after 18 months of treatment, just days before her 10th birthday. But Traci still felt a tremendous love for her daughter, so she looked for a way to fill the void. She did it by doing the thing that she and Andrea had always loved to do, by shopping. Eventually, they had so many toys they didn’t know what to do. The Brunks approached the hospital with and idea to build a closet and fill it with toys so that every child could have a place to go to take away their fear. At Andrea’s Closet, our mission is to help children and their families cope with illness, but our vision is to deliver smiles, one toy at a time.

One of the girls, Kendyl Neus, says “We get to run around and play soccer and they don't, so we just wanted to do something nice. We give these bears to sick people in the hospitals who have cancer or sickness."

Build-A-Bear at the San Tan Mall opened their doors earlier then normal Wednesday to help the girls make a difference in the lives of those stuck in the Valley hospital. Each soccer team had a designated time to build a stuffed animal.The girls planned on delivering the bears in person, but due to the swine flu they were not able to go into the hospitals.

Parents Mary Catherine Biddle, Kristen White and Kimm Gumm were instrumental coordinating the event.

This a great example of  how GSC Arsenal is more than just a youth soccer club. Through events like this we are an extension of the community. WAY TO GO!!
Here is a link to the article on abc15.com