Little girl who befriended MSU player has died.

[DeltaBoy]

http://collegebasketball.ap.org/stuttgartdailyleader/article/8-year-old-girl-befriended-hoops-star-dies

DETROIT (AP) — Lacey Holsworth, the 8-year-old girl with cancer who befriended Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne and inspired the team to make her happy by playing well, has died, the girl's father said.

One of the best stories of this years March Madness.  RIP kid.

[Kevin]

it is a great story  rip lacey

[Hog1966]

Times like this when I have zero problems applauding a member of another team.

Glad he helped bring happiness to Lacey during the latter part of her life.

[Arky]

Sad.

[gmarv]

god bless the little children, i,m sure shes in a better place now.

[Hogs run wild]

god bless the little children, i,m sure shes in a better place now.

amen

[Danny J]

Damn....that is terrible. I remember her story from even earlier in the season.

[nextlevel]

Damn....that is terrible. I remember her story from even earlier in the season.

She was made part of the show during the slam dunk contest by Payne.

You could tell it was a genuine story/relationship making it very easy to root for Payne and Michigan St.

[Lanny]

sad news

[Danny J]

She was made part of the show during the slam dunk contest by Payne.

You could tell it was a genuine story/relationship making it very easy to root for Payne and Michigan St.

I know I rooted for him. They had a special bond. Payne is a astounding young man and I hope he goes on to great things in the NBA. He is a class act.

[DEVIL DOG HOG]

Prayers for Lacey and her family.  Thank you Mr. Payne.

[Delicious~Dreams]

Heartbreakingly sad....Prayers for her family and all who knew her. 

[LL COOL HOG]

I took a moment to think about Lacey and Payne today. She looked so happy during the dunk contest, it's tough knowing that she is now gone. Every third Thursday of the month while we are at the Hemoc clinic we see these young children with bald heads, weak bodies just light up at either a favorite nurse or a therapy dog that has came to visit. These kids exhibit more strength then a lot of adults.

These young patients do not care about your race, income or political beliefs. They just want to be a normal kid and  survive.

[root_hawg]

A great story of how love can be found in any occasion

[urkillnmesmalls]

I saw that this morning.  Sad.  Hopefully it will bring perspective to the people who were associated with her during her short lifetime, and they will be better off because of her courage and will.  It's hard to imagine having to bury a child that age, and I think you have to cling to the impact they can make in such a short time to get through it.  Obviously, she made a huge impact on several people. 

[Nosboar Accubond]

Broke my heart to learn this... I remember her story from early on and found a new respect for Payne. May she rest in peace and God be with her family and friends.
WPS

[jbcarol]

Dick Vitale ‏@DickieV 2h
I am jumping with JOY / THANK YOU THANK YOU. - We have the 250 K for @AdorableLacey AWESOME BABY...

http://instagram.com/p/oEXD8qgrS4/


Dick Vitale ‏@DickieV 3h
Only 2 more hours to DONATE in memory of @AdorableLacey @jimmyv.org/lacey http://www.dickvitaleonline.com

More than 870 people will be in attendance at the Sarasota (Fla.) Ritz-Carlton on Friday night...

We will have many inspirational stories of youngsters that have beaten cancer. There will also be a presentation of a grant in honor of Lacey Holsworth, the young lady who meant so much to Michigan State basketball before losing her battle with cancer. Coach Tom Izzo, as well as Lacey's parents, will be in attendance.

There will be more than 70 celebrities from the world of sports there. Three special coaches — Nick Saban of Alabama, Mike Brey of Notre Dame and Tom Crean of Indiana — will be honorees.

There will be another grant in the name of Eddie Livingston, a youngster from our area who also lost his battle with cancer.

[jbcarol]

Matt Jones ‏@KySportsRadio 14h
Not a better guy than @DickieV. Listening him to speak about pediatric cancer research is inspiring pic.twitter.com/d1rmm2ZzjE

[jbcarol]

Saban made a $50,000 donation to the V Foundation for cancer research, event officials confirmed. The event was expected to raise more than $2 million for pediatric cancer as part of former coach Jim Valvano's legacy.

"I am in awe of the response we are receiving about our desire to help kids battling cancer," Vitale said in a news release. "Jimmy V would be so proud."

A $250,000 grant was made in memory of Lacey Holsworth, the 8-year old Michigan State fan who lost her battle with cancer after inspiring millions.

Saban also posed for a picture with Jack Hoffman, the young Nebraska fan who captured the nation's attention for his spring game touchdown last season. Hoffman, whose cancer is in remission, won an ESPY Award last summer.

Dick Vitale        ✔ @DickieV
U tube sensation Jack Hoffman 8 yr old Espy winner - ran 4 TD in Nebraska red/white game
7:28 PM - 16 May 2014

[jbcarol]

Adam Himmelsbach ‏@AdamHimmelsbach  May 23
Column on 3 sisters & a touching gesture at Churchill Downs to honor Lacey, 8-yr-old Mich St fan who died of cancer: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/columnists/himmelsbach/2014/05/23/adam-himmelsbach-remembering-lacey-racehorse ...

Greg James' three young daughters are college basketball fans just like their father. They attend Louisville games with him and watch on television with him, and it's usually just so fun. Then this spring they saw a story about an 8-year-old Michigan girl who loved basketball just like them. Except this girl was dying from cancer.

"Certainly, my daughters could identify with Lacey," Greg James said. "I could see it really hit home."

What happened next made Greg James proud, and it made him hug his girls a little tighter. They approached him after Lacey's death and said they wanted her to be remembered. They didn't want people to forget.

The James family, which owns racehorses on a 57-acre farm east of Middletown, happened to have a young filly that was preparing for its first race. James had planned to name her Interesting's Bull. But Ericka asked if they could name her Lacey the Spartan instead.

"I just felt bad so for her family," Ericka said. "I wanted to name our horse in her honor."

Greg James left Churchill Downs encouraged about Lacey the Spartan's future. He said that if there are eventually winnings, he would look into donating a portion to a charity in Lacey Holsworth's name.

But this isn't about winning and losing as much as it's about a simple, touching gesture. It's about three sisters who wanted to find a way to remember and honor a brave young girl they'd never even met.

[DeltaBoy]

This story a great one to see even Nick be so kind, it proves NS got a heart for kids but lazy FB players not so much.

RIP Kid your in a better place.