For Immediate Release
October 29, 2024
HTX Soccer is pleased to announce that Ben Cross (West 11B Gold) has returned to the team after battling Leukemia AML since July 2022. The club is overjoyed to have him back on the field and participating in all his team activities.
"Ben Cross has been with HTX since he was a young kid and has always loved the club and the game. In July of 2022 having just completed tryouts for the coming season, Ben was diagnosed with Leukemia AML," said the Cross Family. "This is a particularly tough disease to beat and required 5 months of hospitalization, rounds of chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant from his brother. However, this season and two years later Ben is back. He has rejoined the team that was stolen away from him and he is regaining his fitness and love for the game. It’s a dream come true to be back, competing and loving the beautiful game."
"It's fantastic to see Ben back on the fields playing soccer where he belongs. Beating cancer and recovering in the way he has done during the recent period is a true testament to his character, " said Radojica Ristic, West Director. "On behalf of the entire club, we are so excited to have him and his family back full-time."
"Ben is a tremendous young man and it's great to see him on the fields where he belongs after a lengthy recovery period," said Ivan Ruddle, Director of Coaching West Youth Boys. "He really inspires everybody around him that courage and hard work pay off and anything is achievable in life. He continues to act as a great role model for the club and will do so in the foreseeable future."
To find an HTX Soccer program near you for any age or experience level, visit www.htxsoccer.com
ABOUT HTX SOCCER
HTX Soccer is the largest youth soccer club in the Greater Houston area with more than 8,500 players at every skill level from recreational to elite from the ages of 3-19. The club truly represents the sport in Houston, with teams serving a 100-mile radius from Downtown Houston. Since 2006, it has developed 700+ players who have gone on to play collegiately, more than any other club in the area, and 53 players have been selected to attend their respective youth national teams activities. HTX Soccer’s elite boys’ teams are part of the ECNL, the most competitive youth soccer league in America, and its elite girls teams compete in the Girls Academy (G.A.) League against the top teams and clubs throughout the country.
###