Dawn Staley asks for Gamecock fans’ help supporting sister after cancer diagnosis
During a difficult time for her family, Dawn Staley is asking fans of South Carolina women’s basketball — affectionately nicknamed “FAMs” — for help.
Staley took to social media Sunday to say that her sister, Tracey Staley Underwood, has been diagnosed with leukemia, a form of blood cancer.
In order to raise her spirits, Staley asked that fans send cards and letters of encouragement, directed to Tracey Underwood, 5 Richland Medical Park, East Room 1127 Bed 1, Columbia, SC 29203 — with a twist.
As part of a running family joke with her mother, Staley asked fans to tape a coin to the cards they send.
“Whenever we receive a card, we wiggle it before reading to see what comes out,” Staley wrote.
All the money received in the cards will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Staley added.
Staley’s mother, Estelle, moved with her from Philadelphia to South Carolina when she took the job as the Gamecocks coach 12 years ago. Estelle died in 2017, shortly after Staley and South Carolina won their first ever national championship. Staley recently paid tribute to Estelle on Mother’s Day with a social media post.
