Volleyball prepares for the eighth annual Griffin’s Game

The Kennesaw State volleyball team continues a favorite tradition with their eighth annual Griffin’s Game on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. against Mississippi State.

This is an important game for the team in support of childhood cancer awareness that is very special to many people in the community.

Griffin’s Game is named in honor of Head Coach Keith Schunzel’s son who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2015. Coach Schunzel wanted to pass forward the abundance of support his family received from the community during the tough time when his son was diagnosed with cancer.

Each year the volleyball team selects a local family that is facing the impossible battle against childhood cancer and uses Griffin’s Game to honor them and raise money to help with medical expenses.

“When your kid has cancer, it’s something indescribable and it’s hard unless you have been through that,” Schunzel said. “So just to be able to share the love and support that we got and give them hope…not just financially…is really important.” 

Through combined efforts, the Schunzel family and the team have raised over $100,000 for local families battling childhood cancer over the years.

This year’s game will help raise money and awareness for Acworth resident, Matthew Hart. Matthew is an 11-year-old child who has been battling an aggressive and extremely rare form of brain cancer for the past 10 years of his life.

Matthew was diagnosed with a high-grade brainstem glioma at a very young age and was told he had less than a six-month life expectancy. He spent a year and a half in hospice until he conquered the odds and became the first child in Georgia with cancer to graduate from hospice.

With countless procedures and treatment plans, Matthew has continued to battle this aggressive form of cancer for a decade and has remained resilient and spirited against all odds.

From the money the Owls raise with this year’s Griffin’s Game, 100% of the funds will go to the Hart family to help with their son’s medical expenses.

This is a game that is extremely important to the volleyball team and members of the KSU community.

“It’s a really sweet time that we can provide for that family and just lift them up in their struggles,” said Claire Parsons, middle blocker for the Owls. “I think the honor and the love that we get to provide is really what I think about when I think of Griffin’s Game.”

Donations and tickets for the eighth annual Griffin’s Game can be purchased here.

You can learn more about the story behind Griffin’s Game here.