Fans can meet Burkhead and other Texans players while raising money for the Team Jack Foundation.
On Monday, October 10, Texans RB Rex Burkhead and some of his teammates will be hosting a fundraiser for the Team Jack Foundation at Top Golf Katy. The event runs from 6-9p and will feature contests, tournaments, raffles, and the opportunity to meet and talk with Texans players.
Anyone who wishes to participate can register for the event here: https://give.teamjackfoundation.org/event/topgolf-or-texans/e402866
The Team Jack Foundation raises money and awareness for childhood brain cancer. According to teamjackfoundation.org, brain cancer is now the deadliest childhood cancer, surpassing leukemia.
The foundation is named after Jack Hoffman, a young man from Nebraska who suffered a seizure before his 6th birthday that led to the discovery of a brain tumor. This occurred just a few months after Jack attended his first Nebraska Cornhuskers football game wearing the jersey of the team’s star running back, Rex Burkhead.
A month after Jack suffered his seizure, Jack had his first brain surgery to remove part of the tumor. Only a small part of the tumor could be removed. The tumor left him with a condition known as Secondary Epilepsy. This condition caused jack to have as many as 11 seizures a day. Five months later, Jack would have a second brain surgery to remove up to 95% of the tumor and end his seizures.
Before his second surgery, Jack’s parents reached out to the University of Nebraska and asked if their son could meet Rex Burkhead. Rex would spend the day with Jack and his family, creating a lifelong bond between the six year old boy and future NFL player.
In a moment that went viral online, Jack was able to participate in the Nebraska spring football game, where he ran for a 69-yard touchdown wearing the number 22 jersey that Burkhead wore during his time at Nebraska. VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_Jmisv1Spck
Since the entire tumor could not be removed, it has continued to grow. Jack flies to Boston every three months to have the tumor and his medication monitored. He continues to deal with epilepsy as a result of the tumor as well. Jack takes 22 pills per day to manage the epilepsy and tumor.
Jack is currently a junior in high school. As a result of all the medications managing his condition, he is able to play high school football as a center for the West Holt Huskies in his hometown of Atkinson, Nebraska.
Sadly, in 2021, Jack’s dad, Andy, passed away after his own battle with brain cancer. The foundation continues Andy’s dream to fund the cure for childhood brain cancer.