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Joseph "Dirty Change" Fleming #21
Joseph Fleming was diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (liver cancer) on July 22, 2016 and passed away October 30, 2016. He was an outgoing 10 year old who never met a stranger and who loved the game of baseball. Joseph’s favorite thing in the world was baseball, and he was affectionately nicknamed “Dirty Change” for his famous “change up” pitch. He and his family were highly involved in League City Little League baseball and select baseball at the time Joseph’s illness was discovered. During Joseph’s illness the local baseball community joined forces with Joseph’s family to form the original informal fundraising group Joseph’s Warriors, which raised funds to support Joseph and his family during his treatment and extended hospital stays.
During Joseph’s journey, his family was faced with startling facts regarding the lack of available specialized treatments for children’s cancer. One of these startling facts is that only 4% or the U.S government funding for cancer research is dedicated to childhood cancer research, despite the fact that children make up 20% of the U.S. population. Another sad fact is that childhood cancers are the #1 disease killer of U.S. kids, more than every other disease that affects kids combined. After Joseph’s passing his parents, family, and the original organizers of the informal Joseph’s Warriors known as “Team Joseph” took up the cause of promoting childhood cancer awareness and promoting the need for increased cancer research and treatments specifically for childhood cancer. This team now carries on Joseph’s legacy through the formal non-profit 501(c)(3) charity corporation Joseph’s Warriors.
The goals of the charity Joseph’s Warriors include raising funds to be distributed as financial assistance to families of children battling cancer at Texas Children’s Hospital and other local hospitals. Joseph’s Warriors plans to deliver “comfort quilts” (crib size to small twin) along with gift cards for parking and gift cards for food delivery to each child on the cancer floor at Texas Children’s Hospital on Joseph’s birthday and on Joseph’s diagnosis date each year. Joseph’s Warriors also plans to have several fundraising events each year including an annual baseball tournament in Joseph’s honor. Additionally, Joseph’s Warriors will promote childhood cancer awareness and the need for increased research through the Joseph’s Warriors website, social media, and Joseph’s Warriors events.How can you help? Joseph’s Warriors accepts monetary donations as well as donations of quilts and quilting supplies such as fabric. You can also help by attending our events and by purchasing our fundraising merchandise such as our t-shirts and hats.
During Joseph’s journey, his family was faced with startling facts regarding the lack of available specialized treatments for children’s cancer. One of these startling facts is that only 4% or the U.S government funding for cancer research is dedicated to childhood cancer research, despite the fact that children make up 20% of the U.S. population. Another sad fact is that childhood cancers are the #1 disease killer of U.S. kids, more than every other disease that affects kids combined. After Joseph’s passing his parents, family, and the original organizers of the informal Joseph’s Warriors known as “Team Joseph” took up the cause of promoting childhood cancer awareness and promoting the need for increased cancer research and treatments specifically for childhood cancer. This team now carries on Joseph’s legacy through the formal non-profit 501(c)(3) charity corporation Joseph’s Warriors.
The goals of the charity Joseph’s Warriors include raising funds to be distributed as financial assistance to families of children battling cancer at Texas Children’s Hospital and other local hospitals. Joseph’s Warriors plans to deliver “comfort quilts” (crib size to small twin) along with gift cards for parking and gift cards for food delivery to each child on the cancer floor at Texas Children’s Hospital on Joseph’s birthday and on Joseph’s diagnosis date each year. Joseph’s Warriors also plans to have several fundraising events each year including an annual baseball tournament in Joseph’s honor. Additionally, Joseph’s Warriors will promote childhood cancer awareness and the need for increased research through the Joseph’s Warriors website, social media, and Joseph’s Warriors events.How can you help? Joseph’s Warriors accepts monetary donations as well as donations of quilts and quilting supplies such as fabric. You can also help by attending our events and by purchasing our fundraising merchandise such as our t-shirts and hats.
In honor of Joseph the League City Little League named a field in his memory.
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"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson
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