PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley Women's Basketball head coach Andrea Gorski added to her 2017-18 squad with the Braves making a rare mid-year addition to the roster with the signing of Jalene Woolford (Pontiac, Ill./St. Mary's) to a Letter of Intent during a special ceremony at Renaissance Coliseum after Thursday's practice.  

An eight-year old from Pontiac, Ill., Jalene is currently undergoing chemotherapy to treat Anaplastic Astrocystoma Grade 3 spinal cord cancer.  Since being diagnosed last year, she had surgery to open up the walls of her spinal cord after the cancer was deemed inoperable in addition to radiation treatment.  Team IMPACT helped make the connection between Jalene and Bradley Women's Basketball. 

Following practice, her new teammates showed her to her new locker and Jalene received a jersey at the Letter of Intent signing, where she was joined by her parents Jamie and Jim along with her brother Justin. 

"Jalene has a great passion for both basketball and life," said Gorski.  "She is an amazing young woman who has stayed upbeat despite challenges thrown her way and we are happy she is a part of our team."  

The mission of Team IMPACT is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses by establishing and expanding vibrant team-based support networks.