We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amy MacFarlane. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amy below.

Alright, Amy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

For the past three years, my son has been playing club soccer for Old Line Soccer Academy/Sporting Baltimore. We have had the great privilege to meet Josh Diaz and his family. Two years ago, Josh was diagnosed with pediatric osteosarcoma which is an aggressive bone cancer. After battling through multiple surgeries and many rounds of chemo, his cancer had spread and amputation was the only option. His leg was amputated in March and shortly thereafter, doctors discovered that his cancer has spread. Knowing that Josh and his family were facing yet another obstacle, I decided that I wanted to do everything that I could to help raise money to offset the costs of having a child with cancer. I also wanted to make one of Josh’s wish come true…he has always dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player. In September of 2022, I reached out to Gianni Tumminello, the Baltimore Blast general manager to see if the Blast could help me in my fundraising efforts and possibly help make Josh’s dream come true. Gianni immediately offered to help and we decided that we were going to create a local ‘make a wish’ event for Josh. The Blast so graciously offered to have Josh be the centerpiece of their opening day on December 3rd. For three months, Gianni and myself organized what turned out to be a wildly successful event! Josh was officially signed to a contract with the Blast. He was presented with his very own jersey and was interviewed by multiple news reporters. On the night of the season opener (which was totally sold out), Josh made his professional debut. Josh had the support of our entire club, many of his doctors and nurses, students and teachers from his school, and countless other members of the Baltimore soccer club community. It was an amazing night and Josh played in the game and scored the first goal of the game and season. Multiple news stations were at the game reporting on this amazing make a wish event that we had organized.

This event consumed my life for three months. I spent hours upon hours organizing everything with Gianni and multiple Baltimore Blast players. Not only were we able to make his dream come true but we have also successfully raised over $15,000 for him and his family via multiple fundraisers.

Josh is one amazing child and is one of the happiest and determined person that I have ever met. His smile radiates and I feel so incredibly honored to have organized all of this for him and his family. He is a fighter and I know that he WILL beat cancer!

I want to make sure that Gianni Tumminello and the Baltimore Blast get credit for helping make this dream come true for Josh. They have donated so much of their time and resources to make this a success. I also want to thank William Vanzela, the Baltimore Blast goalie, who has become amazing friends with Josh and has taken time out of his very busy schedule to visit Josh, has taken him and his family out to dinner just to name a few.

Amy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a soccer mom…thats really it. My son joined Old Line Soccer Academy which is now named Sporting Baltimore 2.5 years ago. My husband and I have become more and more involved in the club and have been the team managers for the past two years.

In the club soccer world, your children practice and play games at the very minimum of 4 days a week…so our soccer club team has become our family. We truly love each and every child as well as their families. We would do anything for any of these families so when Josh was diagnosed with cancer, I just wanted to do any and everything in my power to help out Josh and his family.

My goal is to just spread the word about this amazing child…to share this beautiful story about how the Baltimore soccer community has all come together to do everything that we can for Josh. My goal is to continue to raise funds for Josh and his family via my gofundme page. There are just so many expenses that come with having a child fighting cancer and I want to help offset those costs. I also want people to know how amazing the Baltimore Blast organization is for everything that they have done for Josh and his family. Gianni and his crew have been so incredible and have spent so much time helping me make Josh’s dreams come true.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect is when I saw Josh’s huge smile at both the contract signing and after he stepped off of the field after he had played in the season opener. It has been so rewarding seeing how strong he has been even through his many setbacks that he has faced because of cancer. People have asked why I did this for him and his family. All you need to do is see this childs smile and talk to Josh…it would be impossible NOT to do everything that I could for him. Him and his family is part of my soccer family and I would do absolutely anything for them.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal has always been to do everything in my power to make Josh’s dreams come true…and to help raise money for his family to offset costs associated with having a child with cancer. I am excited to continue working with Josh and his family and look forward to partnerships with the Baltimore Blast.

My gofundme page can be found using the link below:

https://gofund.me/946000e8

Contact Info:

• Other: https://gofund.me/946000e8

Image Credits
Baltimore Blast