Monday morning marked Orange County SC’s annual Soccer For Hope clinic. The clinic offers a chance for over 175 local youth players to do drills, play games, and learn technical skills from players and coaches from the club, while also teaching those attending about compassion and respect.

OCSC General Manager and Soccer For Hope co founder Oliver Wyss has a close tie to the program: in 1997, he was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a rare autoimmune disease that prevents the production of red and white blood cells. A bone marrow transplant saved his life, but ended his playing career.

Oliver’s suffering extended far beyond an early retirement from playing, however. The couple lost their children Hudson and Abella to rare brain cancers at ages three and 11 respectively. He speaks softly, yet seriously, when discussing the program, its background, and its purpose.

After receiving the bone marrow transplant, he and his wife Jamie founded Soccer For Hope, a program that raises money and awareness of rare and life-threatening diseases.

Soccer For Hope is the club’s primary community outreach program. Its advertising boards dot the sidelines at home matches, and players often don the organization’s merchandise. The soccer clinic is a natural extension of its close ties to OCSC. It is a fun day that focuses on developing soccer skills while also teaching children the importance of being compassionate and supportive of those who fight dangerous diseases like cancer. To date, the program has raised millions of dollars for local charities and hospitals involved with rare pediatric cancers.