OU's Austin Woods finalist for Rare Disease Champion Award
BY ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
1/08/13 at 6:18 AM
NORMAN - Oklahoma's Austin Woods has been named one of seven finalists for the 2013 Rare Disease Champion Award.
The junior offensive lineman played football despite undergoing chemotherapy to fight Stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma. He didn't miss any games due to his condition and his last chemotherapy session was on Oct. 1.
Exactly one month later, Woods announced his cancer was in remission.
The Rare Disease Champion Award is given to a leader in college football, individual or organization, who has realized his or her potential to make a positive and lasting impact on the rare disease community.
Online voting is under way at tulsaworld.com/rarediseasevote Voting continues through Jan. 31, with the winner announced on Feb. 1. Woods joined a team visit to the Children's Medical Center of Dallas two days before Oklahoma's Cotton Bowl game against Texas A&M.
"One of the things I wanted to do after I was diagnosed, because it really opened my eyes to the world of cancer, was to use my platform as an OU football player to help others, especially kids, who are going through the same thing," Woods said.
Associated Images:
Woods
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