Off Script: Women’s Soccer Duo Forms Bond at CC Champions
12/16/2017 1:22:00 PM | General, Women's Soccer
Pozzulo, Hobbs Develop Friendship at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
If you drive through the city of Pittsburgh, you may happen to notice a beautiful young face on a billboard for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh's holiday campaign. That face is that of eight-year old Riley, who spent a chunk of her short life in Children's Hospital, battling an illness that no child should have to endure.
Though Riley was faced with challenges that no youngster should have to, she was able to form friendships that touched the lives of those around her. She had made two friends in senior Emma Pozzulo and sophomore Maddie Hobbs, two strong women of the University of Pittsburgh women's soccer team.
Last fall, Pozzulo learned about CC Champions, a Pittsburgh organization, through the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and wanted to become involved.
"I heard about it and wanted to get involved. I told Maddie about it because I thought she would be a good person to do it with me," said Pozzulo "And then we started the process and applied last winter."
CC Champions matches children in the program with volunteers through an application process that allows the organization to pair a child with individuals who work or participate in fields of interest to the child..
That is when they met Riley, the eight-year-old craft-loving, SpongeBob-watching, and Shopkins-playing beautiful young girl. When CC Champions first met Riley, she was not her usual bright, happy self. Instead, she wasn't feeling well, emotionally and physically, which stemmed from her more than 70 straight day stay in the hospital. That is why she proved to be a perfect candidate for the program. In her short eight years, Riley has not had it easy, fighting Leukemia and undergoing a Bone Marrow transplant.
Their first visit was at the end of June, and Pozzulo and Hobbs were nervous at first, unsure of what to expect.
"I was not used to being in a hospital atmosphere and I did not know what to truly expect, but I wanted to put a smile on her face and it was definitely a rewarding experience," Pozzulo said. "She just made me so happy and put a smile on my face. Just seeing how happy she was no matter what she was going through was really nice to see."
Hobbs echoed the same sentiment, "I was apprehensive too, just because we hadn't met her and we were unsure of how sick she was going to be. But it was very fun going into it, especially once we got to know her and her family.
Riley was matched with Emma and Maddie despite not knowing what she wanted to be when she grew up. For Riley, the program was used to find someone to lift her spirits, and Pozzulo and Hobbs proved to be perfect candidates. Riley did not play soccer, but had an interest in sports. While she did not know much about the sport itself, they worked to bring her the game and tried to make her an honorary captain. Sadly, that wasn't able to happen due to Riley's health, but Pozzulo and Hobbs kept her there in spirit.
It was during a day of friendship bracelet making that Riley opened up to the girls about her grandmother having the same cancer. She said she wished that she would be able to be as strong as her grandmother, and that is imprinted on Hobbs' heart forever.
"She was a little down that day, and it just broke my heart that she was able to feel such emotion at such a young age," Hobbs said. "As cliché as it is, she is wise beyond her age."
That day also moved Pozzulo. "It just showed me how perspective on life can just change your attitude," she said "When I think that something is going on in my life, it is so marginal to what Riley is going through. I keep the bracelet from that day on my knapsack to remind me that things are not so bad and that I am very blessed."
Riley was discharged from the hospital in October and her family moved away from Pittsburgh, so that was the end of this journey for Pozzulo and Hobbs.
The two reapplied to join CC Champions once again and are currently waiting to see if they will be placed with another child. Whether or not they are paired with another child, the friendships and lessons they have learned will always remain with them.
"I have gained a perspective on how fortunate I am," Hobbs said. "Our coaches always remind us that we are the one percent of student athletes who get to go to college and play a Division I sport. The things we complain about like 'I did not get enough sleep', those things are super small compared to things she is going through. Also, getting to see the environment. I haven't been to any other Children's Hospitals and as unfortunate as it is for these kids to be there, the staff does such a great job to make it a happy place."
Since October, Pozzulo and Hobbs have not spoken with or seen Riley. Fortunately, Riley was discharged from the hospital at that time in healthy condition. The friendship which was created between the three is one which will remain unbroken, despite the distance between them.
"For me, I have had a personal experience with cancer in general and this was a great experience," Hobbs said. "With Riley, it was a way to give back. I have been in the same shoes as Riley's family. Just to be able to help them in any way, that is what she means to me."
For Pozzulo, she says that Riley "Is an inspiration. Whenever I am down, or think my life is down, I think of the times we would visit her and she was happy and ready to play with us. She is such an inspirational girl."
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Though Riley was faced with challenges that no youngster should have to, she was able to form friendships that touched the lives of those around her. She had made two friends in senior Emma Pozzulo and sophomore Maddie Hobbs, two strong women of the University of Pittsburgh women's soccer team.
Last fall, Pozzulo learned about CC Champions, a Pittsburgh organization, through the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and wanted to become involved.
"I heard about it and wanted to get involved. I told Maddie about it because I thought she would be a good person to do it with me," said Pozzulo "And then we started the process and applied last winter."
CC Champions matches children in the program with volunteers through an application process that allows the organization to pair a child with individuals who work or participate in fields of interest to the child..
That is when they met Riley, the eight-year-old craft-loving, SpongeBob-watching, and Shopkins-playing beautiful young girl. When CC Champions first met Riley, she was not her usual bright, happy self. Instead, she wasn't feeling well, emotionally and physically, which stemmed from her more than 70 straight day stay in the hospital. That is why she proved to be a perfect candidate for the program. In her short eight years, Riley has not had it easy, fighting Leukemia and undergoing a Bone Marrow transplant.
Their first visit was at the end of June, and Pozzulo and Hobbs were nervous at first, unsure of what to expect.
"I was not used to being in a hospital atmosphere and I did not know what to truly expect, but I wanted to put a smile on her face and it was definitely a rewarding experience," Pozzulo said. "She just made me so happy and put a smile on my face. Just seeing how happy she was no matter what she was going through was really nice to see."
Hobbs echoed the same sentiment, "I was apprehensive too, just because we hadn't met her and we were unsure of how sick she was going to be. But it was very fun going into it, especially once we got to know her and her family.
Riley was matched with Emma and Maddie despite not knowing what she wanted to be when she grew up. For Riley, the program was used to find someone to lift her spirits, and Pozzulo and Hobbs proved to be perfect candidates. Riley did not play soccer, but had an interest in sports. While she did not know much about the sport itself, they worked to bring her the game and tried to make her an honorary captain. Sadly, that wasn't able to happen due to Riley's health, but Pozzulo and Hobbs kept her there in spirit.
It was during a day of friendship bracelet making that Riley opened up to the girls about her grandmother having the same cancer. She said she wished that she would be able to be as strong as her grandmother, and that is imprinted on Hobbs' heart forever.
"She was a little down that day, and it just broke my heart that she was able to feel such emotion at such a young age," Hobbs said. "As cliché as it is, she is wise beyond her age."
That day also moved Pozzulo. "It just showed me how perspective on life can just change your attitude," she said "When I think that something is going on in my life, it is so marginal to what Riley is going through. I keep the bracelet from that day on my knapsack to remind me that things are not so bad and that I am very blessed."
Riley was discharged from the hospital in October and her family moved away from Pittsburgh, so that was the end of this journey for Pozzulo and Hobbs.
The two reapplied to join CC Champions once again and are currently waiting to see if they will be placed with another child. Whether or not they are paired with another child, the friendships and lessons they have learned will always remain with them.
"I have gained a perspective on how fortunate I am," Hobbs said. "Our coaches always remind us that we are the one percent of student athletes who get to go to college and play a Division I sport. The things we complain about like 'I did not get enough sleep', those things are super small compared to things she is going through. Also, getting to see the environment. I haven't been to any other Children's Hospitals and as unfortunate as it is for these kids to be there, the staff does such a great job to make it a happy place."
Since October, Pozzulo and Hobbs have not spoken with or seen Riley. Fortunately, Riley was discharged from the hospital at that time in healthy condition. The friendship which was created between the three is one which will remain unbroken, despite the distance between them.
"For me, I have had a personal experience with cancer in general and this was a great experience," Hobbs said. "With Riley, it was a way to give back. I have been in the same shoes as Riley's family. Just to be able to help them in any way, that is what she means to me."
For Pozzulo, she says that Riley "Is an inspiration. Whenever I am down, or think my life is down, I think of the times we would visit her and she was happy and ready to play with us. She is such an inspirational girl."
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer2025 Hall of Fame Class | Jack Anderson
Saturday, September 27
Pitt Football | Allen Greene Media Availability | 8.7.25
Thursday, August 07
Allen Greene at Pitt Night at PNC Park
Monday, June 23
Allen Greene Interview with Dan Zangrilli | Pitt Athletics
Saturday, June 21