Photo: The Ford family and friends with Kortne Ford (mother right) on the Colorado Rapids’ visit to play Sporting KC earlier this season
Having a sick parent is tough. But for DU alum and current Colorado Rapid Kortne Ford, only 21 years of age, he faces a mountain of challenges his first year away from DU.
Ford played soccer for three seasons for the University of Denver and was an outstanding student. After signing in January with the Rapids, he figured to be a backup this season. However, starting center back Axel Sjoberg is out for six to eight weeks because of an injury. So Ford has been getting starts for the Rapids. His head coach Pablo Mastroeni loves Ford’s attitude and effort.
This should be the happiest time of his life.
But his mom, Laurie, has been diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer after an extended battle with breast cancer. And the family needs our help.
As we mentioned in a prior article, Laurie received sole custody of Kortne to get him away from an abusive father and made the move from Kansas City to Greeley, Colorado. Once moved, his mother battled breast cancer and appeared to have won the battle. When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy, she would drive Kortne from Greeley to south Denver once or twice a day for soccer practice. Their special bond has been well documented – even before her current battle.
“She knew (becoming a professional soccer player) was a huge goal of mine, and she put so much into it. The least I can do is go out and fight and be appreciative for the moment I have.”
“They gave her a year,” Ford said, “so that’s rough.”, said Ford to the Denver Post.
He recently lost an aunt, who he calls his “other mom,” to liver cancer. His Aunt Jo lived with them and helped his mom raise him.
The DU family can be a powerful force when we pitch in to help fellow Pioneers.
At LetsGoDU we are making a special appeal to all our readers and PioNation to help the Ford family with their medical bills. And, it is especially meaningful with it being Mother’s Day. Go to GoFundMe and contribute what you can to the Ford family. The fund target is $25,000 and currently sits at $15,615. And be sure to wish Lauri Ford the best from Pioneer Nation in the comment section as well.