Perseverance, athlete, humanity and champion, these are some of the attributes that come to mind when I believe of Brandon Phillips, International Polo Player and cancer survivor.
Diagnosed with life-threatening non-Hodgkin lymphoma in his teens, Phillips has a 50/50 chance of survival, with a prognosis of only six weeks to live. With an army of will and refusal to lose, particularly in the game of life, Phillips defied all odds by overcoming the odds and being cancer free. Since then, she has taken a more active role in fundraising and raising awareness, helping kids with cancer and acting as Brand Ambassador for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
We were so lucky to talk with Brandon about his love of polo, helping others, and discussing the upcoming 4th Annual Polo For Purpose, a charity polo match taking place on Monday, January 16, 2017, at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida. Their mission: to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma. The goal of LLS is not only to help these patients heal, but also to improve the quality of life for them and their families.
Tell me how did you start playing Polo?
I grew up on a horse farm in King City, Ontario Canada. It’s about 35 minutes north of Toronto. Both my father and brother played amateur polo, so obviously, I grew up playing with them at the Toronto Polo Club.
What are your proudest accomplishments because I’m sure there were many?
I’ve been very lucky to take part in and win some of the most coveted tournaments all over the world, but to be honest, my proudest accomplishment is what we did today with Polo For A Purpose. In 4 years, we have been able to exceed my fundraising expectations and make a solid contribution to LLS in helping families and youngsters coping with cancer.
Have you ever thought about getting diagnosed again?
I at all times thought about getting diagnosed again, no way not. Honestly, it is just part of my life. Every bump, every pain, every cough, you think what if…. but I have accepted that. I noticed that if it ever comes back I am unable to control it. It is in God’s hands. My job is to live every day and somehow make a difference, to help others.
Any suggestions to share with parents who may have a child diagnosed?
My advice to parents of kids who have been diagnosed, is to stay positive. Your child feeds on your emotions and energy. Be positive, spend time with them and assure them that you’re going to be with them every step of the way. Most importantly, parents need to keep their own records of everything their kids are involved in. Every test result, every procedure, every thing! Doctors are great, but they aren’t great bookkeepers. My mother saved me many times by providing important information that doctors misplaced. Here’s the key!
Tell us about the upcoming Polo For A Purpose event?
This year’s Polo For A Purpose will be our biggest event to date. We’ll have the same big lunch and auction, followed by an all-pro, high-goal polo match. A special addition this year is a live concert performance by Gipsy Sound Revolution aka The Gypsy Kings! This event is going to be astonishing and we are all very excited.
How can people buy tickets?
Tickets can be purchased directly from our website www.poloforapurpose.org or at the gate. Gates will open at 13:30, the polo game will start at 14:30, followed by the concert at 16:00.
Tickets for games and concerts are only $40 per person. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Last year alone, Polo For A Purpose raised more than $360,000 with a central mission to find a cure.
LLS is the biggest voluntary cancer research organization, particularly focused on finding cures and better treatments for blood cancer patients. With the scope and scale to fund multiple projects without delay, LLS supports hundreds of cancer scientists all over the world. Unlike commercial companies, every dollar invested comes from the charitable support of caring donors.
Want to find out how to make a difference, choose an option below:
• Donations
• Leaving a legacy
• Participate in fundraising events
• Become an LLS advocate
• Shop at LLS eStore
Thank You You are Brandon for your time and for sharing your stories. Good luck with Polo For A Purpose and we hope to see you there. www.poloforapurpose.org
