Over the past year, the American University women's soccer team has been actively engaged in causes that are important to them. For Valentine's Day this year, the squad has decided to send e-Cards to patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, encouraged to do so by one of the newest members of the team, Lilli Marcia.
 
"My family has supported children's philanthropic organizations my whole life," said Marcia, who transferred to AU from Virginia Commonwealth in the fall.
 
Personal experience with children's hospitals has shaped her desire to support causes such as St. Jude. In addition to spending a few weeks with her twin brother in the NICU after being born, a friend's little sister was diagnosed with leukemia when Marcia was in high school.
 
Marcia's friend was a bone marrow match for her sister and ended up saving her life.
 
"That was a really scary time, but it was also an amazing thing to witness," said Marcia. "Helping children with cancer will always mean something to me because of this experience."
 
That help can take the form of filling out an e-Card online, a cause that has rallied the entire team.
 
"As soon as she sent the St. Jude project to the group, our entire team was on board," said assistant women's soccer coach Katie Greenberg. "We are thrilled that so many of our student-athletes take such a proactive role in the department, University and greater DMV area, and Lilli is no exception."
 
"I think that if our team can make an impact just by taking two minutes out of our day to write a card, we should all do it," said Marcia. "You never know what someone else is going through and a simple gesture such as a card can go a long way."
 
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the world's premier pediatric cancer research centers. Its mission is to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. (From their website)
 
If you would like to send a card of your own, click here.