UNION COUNTY, N.C. -- The Make-A-Wish Foundation kicked off their Believe campaign last week, and they've chosen a Union County teenager and cancer survivor to head up the local efforts after beating testicular cancer.
Last June, Olin Austin knew something wasn't right with his body.
"We did some scans and figured out there was a tumor, and the next day they removed the tumor. And within a week they diagnosed it was testicular cancer," said Austin.
As an upcoming Union Academy senior and passionate football player, he was out with chemo and homebound for nine weeks, a tough reality for a teenager.
"Want my last year of football to go well, go to college, it kind of makes you step back and say, 'Oh wow, it can all be taken away from you just like that,'" said Austin.
With family, friends and the dream of football, he conquered his cancer and made all-conference in football.
"It's really been a passion. It really was a driving force for me pushing through the treatments knowing that at the end of the tunnel there will be football again," said Austin.
Then he got linked up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As a farmer's son, he'll be going to the John Deere plant in Illinois, but he also was asked to represent the organization in their major Christmas campaign. It's the Letters to Santa writing campaign. Teamed up with Macy's, every letter written is a dollar donated, up to a million dollars. It translates to 120 kids' wishes granted.
"So starting Nov. 7 through Christmas Eve kids can go to Macy's and write a letter to Santa. They have mailboxes set up all over to go to the North Pole," said Lauren Harnett, with Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Austin was asked to head up the local chapters campaign and serve as ambassador on Believe Day, when they present the letters.
"We picked Olin because Union Academy has been helping with the Believe campaign for past five years. They submit thousands of letters, which translates to thousands of dollars donated," said Harnett.
Which for Austin is an honor, knowing what these kids are going through.
"It's humbling to go and help kids like that, you know where they've been and what they're going through. It's a light at end of tunnel for them to see – 'Wow, he got through it and made it this far after that,'" said Austin.
