Roy Williams and UNC basketball will have another teammate on their bench when the Tar Heels take on NC State on Tuesday.
11-year-old Scott Lenfestey of Cary, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age three, will join head coach Roy Williams on the UNC bench. Scott is a recreational basketball player, a Carolina fan and a cancer survivor.
Scott’s journey to the Tar Heels’ bench began last summer at the American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer Invitational golf event at Pinehurst. Williams, a long-time supporter of the American Cancer Society and Coaches vs. Cancer, served as honorary chair of the tournament, which itself raised more than $1.5 million, and offered up the “UNC Basketball Courtside Experience” auction item.
A year ago, five-year-old Luke Morin died from an inoperable brain tumor. Williams and Hunter Morin, Luke’s grandfather, are close friends and the tragedy led the UNC coach to help further fund childhood cancer research. The courtside experience was purchased by UNC basketball supporters Munroe and Becky Cobey and they decided to give the experience to a childhood cancer survivor.
Scott’s parents both attended UNC and he was treated by Dr. Stuart H. Gold at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Today, Scott visits Capitol Hill each year to share his story and secure funding for research.
Scott’s mother, Nancy, credits support for cancer research funding with saving her son’s life.
“It has given him an opportunity to do the normal things in life that he missed out on while fighting cancer,” she said.
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