CHARLOTTE – On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers and Atrium Health Levine Cancer will honor cancer patients and survivors who are serving as the game's honorary Crucial Catch coin toss captains. Together, they will honor those who have lost their battle to cancer and those who are in the fight, as well as celebrate those who are survivors of the disease.
The captains' nameplates will read Perseverance, Relentless, Together, Faith Walker, Fearless, and Love to recognize both the courage and resolve that are hallmarks of those battling the disease, as well as recognize the love and care provided by family and medical support systems so vital to patients.
The Carolina Panthers would like to thank Atrium Health for selecting Sunday's captains:
Griffin Gacsy – Relentless
Griffin Gacsy's high school journey took a profound turn at age 14 when, just days into his freshman year, his father rushed him to Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital due to concerning symptoms. After a series of evaluations, he received the challenging diagnosis of non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, marking the beginning of a three-year battle against cancer. Now at 17 years of age, Griffin embodies resilience, dedicating his energy to his passions: volleyball, cooking, bowling, pickleball and exploring Charlotte with friends. His love for creative media shines in his favorite class, media technology, where he crafts content and contributes to his high school's award-winning weekly television show. Thriving now, Griffin is excited to prepare for his college journey next fall.
Libby Kern – Fearless
Libby Kern was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor behind her eye at just 18 months old. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, chemotherapy and the loss of vision in one eye, her fearless spirit never wavered. Through countless treatments and challenges, including mobility issues and brain surgery at the age of 12, Libby has remained an inspiring, bubbly and joyful force. She continues to thrive academically and socially, participating in school musicals and playing percussion in her award-winning high school band. Now, even with 75% of her vision lost, Libby continues to thrive, fueled by her love for music, Taylor Swift and Formula 1. Through every challenge, Libby's determination has shown that nothing can dim her light.
Lisa Georges - Love
Lisa Georges discovered a lump in her breast in early November 2023, leading to a quick appointment with her doctor. Not long after, she learned she had stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. She barely had any time to digest the shocking news before starting an aggressive treatment journey involving 24 weeks of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, radiation, and immunotherapy. Thankfully, Lisa is now in remission. She says her husband Tony was a constant support, attending every appointment, often in matching Panthers gear as they are big fans of their home team. Looking ahead to the future, they plan to make up for missed vacations in 2025, including a 30th anniversary trip. Lisa hopes her experience inspires other cancer patients to stay positive despite the challenges and lean on loved ones for support along the way.
Marvin Stewart – Faith Walker
Marvin Stewart is a US Army Veteran originally from San Jose, CA. He was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in May 2024, shortly after that Marvin underwent successful surgery to remove one-third of his right lung. Despite facing complications during chemotherapy, including brain inflammation and kidney damage, he remains resilient and has now transitioned to immunotherapy. Marvin was trained as a field EMT for the military, so he has a deep appreciation for everyone at Levine Cancer Institute and the lifesaving care they provide. His latest CT scans show no evidence of cancer, marking him in remission. He says his focus now is on spending time with family, enjoying sports, barbecuing and most of all continuing to have faith and a positive attitude. As he likes to say it, "GOD'S GOT ME!"
Teri Mehall - Together
Teri Mehall is a pediatric oncology nurse navigator at Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital who became a cancer patient herself in November 2022 when she was diagnosed with stage 3 Melanoma. Married to her husband Josh and mother to McKinley and Carter, Teri's battle began with a criticalsurgery in January 2023. She's faced serious complications, including a severe wound infection, sepsis, and severe side effects from immunotherapy. Despite the relentless challenges throughout treatment, Teri has remained strong and connected to her care team at Atrium Health Levine Cancer for regular monitoring. She's incredibly thankful to be cancer-free and continue her selfless work helping our community's youngest cancer patients.
Wayne Patterson Jr. – Perseverance
Wayne Patterson's journey began with a sudden seizure in early 2022. He ended up in the emergency room and an MRI revealed the devastating news: he had a cancerous tumor impacting the area of his brain that controls his speech. Doctors told Wayne surgery was his best chance of survival despite the risks. Post-surgery, he underwent chemo and radiation, which helped shrink the remaining tumor. While Wayne's speech, eyesight, and short-term memory have been affected, he remains optimistic. Wayne attends speech and music therapy, to keep smiling and singing. He loves music (especially country), dogs, movies, NASCAR, and the Carolina Panthers. Wayne is a devoted husband to his wife Ashley and loving father to his 4-year-old son.
