x
Breaking News
More () »

Buckeye fan helps make 8-year-old Wolverine fan's dreams come true while battling cancer

One local Ohio State Buckeyes fan helped give a young Michigan Wolverine fan battling cancer a day he'll never forget.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ohio State and Michigan fans typically don't get along too well. 

But this unlikely bond started with a Facebook post on Sept. 18. 

Andy Scott, of Sylvania, Ohio, along with those in the community were able to give 8-year-old Lachlan Kreis, who is battling stage-four brain cancer, a day in Ann Arbor fit for a champion.

Lachlan, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, has dreamed of watching his favorite football team the University of Michigan Wolverines play in person. That reality has been hard as life has given him a bigger battle.

"We were in a really tough spot, especially right before this. We didn't have the greatest news," said Breanna Kreis, Lachlan's mother. 

Stage-four Medulloblastoma is a rare brain cancer. Fighting for his life, Lachlan's story was heard hundreds of miles away in Sylvania and led to strangers stepping up to create a lasting memory. 

"We thought whatever we could do to make their experience a memorable experience for them," Scott said. "So that was kind of what our goal was. And I think, hopefully, they really had a great time." 

Credit: Emily Szafran
Lachlan Kreis, bottom right, and family.

RELATED: Waite linebacker's one-handed interception earns top spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays

Scott heard about Lachlan's story just one week ago. A lifelong Buckeye fan, he put aside his fandom and made Lachlan's dream in Michigan become a real reality. 

"The University of Michigan, for him, has truly changed his perspective, his attitude," Breanna Kreis said. 

Lachlan spent a weekend in Ann Arbor living a Wolverine's dream, meeting gridiron greats and watching a maize and blue victory. It was all done with help through the Dan Moeller Foundation, a nonprofit that helps kids battling cancer, and the University of Michigan's tailgating group HailGate.

"Our foundation's done some good things but this is by far, I think, the greatest thing that we've done," said Emily Szafran, president and co-founder of Dan Moeller Foundation.

RELATED: Hall of Famer Jim Leyland honored in his hometown of Perrysburg

Lachlan is still facing a tough opponent but his family said moments like the one he experienced, remind them of the support they have at home and afar. 

"It's truly amazing. You're in such a tough spot and you're going through so much," Breanna Kreis said. "To see that this many people truly care and they don't even know you, it's a big deal. It's amazing."

HailGate shared they will continue to help raise money for Lachlan's family's food and travel.

Before You Leave, Check This Out