Wilson Holloway Nominated for Rare Disease Champion Award

Originally Published: Feb 8, 2010 2:51 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- After surviving three fights with cancer, University of Tulsa offensive lineman Wilson Holloway is one of five nominees for the Uplifting Athletes Second Annual Rare Disease Champion Award.

The award is given to an athlete or an organization that has made a positive and lasting impact on the rare disease community.

Holloway battled Hodgkin’s Lymphoma three times since 2008 when, after visiting a doctor at the urging of his coaches, found a softball-sized tumor growing in his chest.

After undergoing chemotherapy, Holloway returned to play for the Golden Hurricane during the 2008 season and appeared in six games that year.

When he discovered a swollen lymph node in October of 2008, Holloway went to his doctor and was again diagnosed with the rare-immune disease. He began a second round of treatment that included both chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

During his treatment he was able to appear in the Golden Hurricane’s game against UCF.

Holloway was again diagnosed with cancer in March of 2009 and doctors added radiation to his treatment and after months of treatment was declared cancer-free.

He is a redshirt sophomore at TU and should have at least two more years of eligibility.

Voting for the award began Feb. 5 and ends Feb. 27. Fans can read each nominee’s personal story and vote at www.upliftingathletes.org/vote.