KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan softball team partnered with Team IMPACT on Wednesday to officially sign ten-year-old Jillian Abbott to their roster for the upcoming season. In a ceremony attended by Abbott, her family, and the entire Bronco softball team, Abbott signed her National Letter of Intent and celebrated with her new teammates.
Abbott is affected by Crohn's disese, an inflammatory condition of the digestive tract that can have debilitating impacts on everyday life. She was introduced to the softball team by Team IMPACT, a nonprofit organization that seeks to pair children with chronic illnesses with collegiate athletes to help improve the child's confidence and sense of belonging through involvement on sports teams.