From Patient to Pioneer: How Anthony Pecorella’s Cancer Battle Fueled His Dedication to Team IMPACT

University of Maine punter Anthony Pecorella discovered a profound new sense of purpose after his own battle with cancer, finding unexpected support and inspiration in the young children he met through the Team IMPACT program. Pecorella’s experience, moving from being the student athlete mentor to becoming the patient himself, crystallized his belief that resilience and belonging are mutual gifts exchanged through the unique partnership between college athletics and children facing life threatening illnesses.

When Pecorella steps onto the football field, the pressure of his singular role as a punter is immense. However, that pressure no longer holds the weight it once did. “If it works out, great. If it doesn’t, then you’re the bad guy,” Pecorella said. “But I’ve learned to have more of a short term memory with stuff like that because in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter as much as what I went through for those four or five months?”

Those “four or five months” refer to the intense chemotherapy Pecorella underwent after receiving a diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, in July 2023. The diagnosis struck at a pivotal moment, right after he had graduated from Maryland and transferred to Stony Brook as a graduate student. What started as an oversized tonsil soon became a life threatening disease, prompting difficult questions about his future and his ability to ever return to football.

To maintain a positive mindset, Pecorella adopted the motto: It’s just a bump in the road. As he navigated the uncertainty and rigorous treatment, the foundation of his support came from an unlikely source: a 13 year old named Cal, whom Pecorella had met through Team IMPACT during his time at Maryland.

Team IMPACT is a nonprofit organization that pairs college athletic programs with children battling serious illnesses, fostering long term relationships intended to inspire belonging, empowerment, and resilience for both the student athletes and the children. The NCAA and Team IMPACT formalized a strategic collaboration in August 2023 to expand this program nationwide.

Pecorella and Cal, who has a rare autoimmune condition, had already formed a close bond over their shared love of football. When Pecorella shared his cancer diagnosis with Cal and his family, the simple text message he received from his young teammate became a source of strength: “You’re going to beat this.”

This moment completely redefined Pecorella’s appreciation for the program. “I’ve seen it from both sides now,” Pecorella said. “I’ve been the student athlete on top of his game, giving a kid the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Then, you flip the script and I’m that kid with the diagnosis, and I’m relying on … my matches like Cal that I had.”

During his first chemotherapy session, Pecorella found another unexpected source of fortitude in Eli, a 3 year old girl with leukemia. He was amazed by Eli’s spirit despite the harsh medical treatment she endured. Eli’s resilience was channeled into her own motto: “Just keep swimming.”

Pecorella explained the motto’s power: “Because no matter how much deep water you’re in, you can always keep swimming. Eventually you’ll get to shore, and you’ll get back to your way.”

Pecorella and Eli maintained their friendship throughout his treatment. When Eli passed away in April 2024, Pecorella was heartbroken, yet determined to ensure her story lived on. He told her parents, “As long as my story’s alive, so is your daughter’s.”

His commitment to Eli’s memory and to the principles of Team IMPACT propelled him forward. When he returned to Stony Brook, he immediately initiated a Team IMPACT chapter on campus, where he and the Seawolves football team were matched with Milo, a 14 year old with spina bifida. After completing his MBA at Stony Brook, Pecorella transferred to UMaine for his final year of eligibility, bringing Team IMPACT with him once again.

“I didn’t even wait until I was in the school,” Pecorella said of his swift advocacy. “I was on my visit, and I sat down with the head coach and said, ‘I’m bringing Team IMPACT here.'”

This season, Pecorella and the UMaine football team were matched with Cooper, a 14 year old who has a neurologic disorder. Pecorella continues to emphasize the reciprocal nature of the partnership. “As much as we’re impacting them, we are so much more impacted by the matches,” Pecorella said. “These kids are real life superheroes. … I think we can learn a lot from them about just being resilient.”

Pecorella’s journey with Team IMPACT also revived his efforts to share his mental health experience, a conversation he had begun before his diagnosis. He uses his Instagram page, Healthy Minds, to empower student athletes and others facing difficult times to ask for help.

Through his dedication to the program, Pecorella’s purpose has been forever changed. “I don’t know who I’d be without Team IMPACT,” Pecorella concluded. “This isn’t just some other foundation where we make kids smile. This is real life development into better versions of yourself, both on an athlete level, student level and just an overall human being. And I truly don’t know who I’d be and how I would have handled cancer or how I would have handled my mental health stuff if I had not joined.” Pecorella remains grateful for the relationships that provided him the strength to overcome one of life’s greatest obstacles.