Bulldog Football Welcomes Keegan Bulk To Ferris State Family!
Click Here For Official Keegan Bulk Signing Release
Click Here For Photos Of Keegan's Visit To FSU
Click Here For Spring Game Recap
Click Here For Spring Game Highlights 
Big Rapids, Mich. - While Saturday's (April 20) annual Crimson & Gold Spring Football game was important to the Ferris State University football program on the field, it had a much bigger significance off the field.
One of the day's biggest highlights and memorable moments came at the end of the opening quarter when both teams gathered near midfield to watch FSU head coach Tony Annese add the game's biggest star to the team in Keegan Bulk, a young cancer survivor from Fremont who became an official member of the Bulldog family thru the Team IMPACT (Inspire, Motivate, and Play Against Challenges Together) program.
Keegan, who was diagnosed a day before his ninth birthday with an inoperable cancerous brain tumor in 2010, signed on the dotted line to become a Bulldog in front on the entire Ferris State football team and fans on hand to watch the spring game. All celebrated in unison as he joined the FSU program.
"It was a big day for us to have Keegan here for this game," said Annese. "It really was a tremendous thing for our players to take part in and for him, so it was a win-win on both sides today.
"We're thankful he could join us and become part of our family and this will be a memorable experience for our team," he added.
Following his diagnosis, Keegan when thru six cycles of chemotherapy and nearly 30 radiation treaments. His cancer is currently in remission and the opportunity to join the Bulldog program was made possible thru the Team IMPACT program and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), which contacted the Bulldog squad.
Team IMPACT's mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses by establishing and expanding vibrant team-based support networks. The organization is a non-profit chartered to improve the qulaity of life for children in these circumstances and the model's core harnesses the power of teamwork by matching courageous kids with college athletic teams.
Team IMPACT children are drafted onto local college teams and, to the greatest extent possible, become an official member of the team for the duration of their treatment and beyond.
"This is a tremendous cause and we're excited to be part of helping kids like Keegan who have battled every day," said Annese.
Keegan not only was able to sign his paperwork in front of the Bulldog nation to a roar of applause, but also enjoyed the game on the sidelines as the white team rolled past the red team in the annual spring event.
"Our family is so proud and excited to be part of the Ferris State football family," said his mother Jennifer Bulk on a facebook post. "Thank you so much for making his dreams come true. He is so excited and the luckiest person I know."
"We had a wonderful day at Ferris State and the coaches and staff were so awesome," said the Team Keegan facebook page. "We cannot thank you all enough for what you have given to Keegan. He is on cloud nine and feeling all of your love."
For more information on Team Keegan or the Team IMPACT program,
please visit the links below:
http://www.goteamimpact.org/
https://www.facebook.com/TeamKeegan
https://www.facebook.com/GoTeamIMPACT?group_id=0