Hannah Penman ’11

After a round of chemotherapy or an inter-state flight for medical attention, most people would be exhausted.

But thanks to the efforts of Hannah Penman and volunteers, hundreds of children experiencing cancer and serious illnesses muster the energy to get outside.

Penman, who beat cancer at age 12, played soccer through middle school, high school and at Pitt-Bradford.

After graduation, doctors removed Penman’s right-side lymph nodes because they feared cancer had returned.

“After that second experience I knew I wanted to do something to combine my experiences,” she said.

While working for KEEN Greater DC, Penman volunteered to coach soccer clinics at Ronald McDonald Houses in Virginia and Washington and at the Children’s Inn at National Institutes of Health.

After three years of balancing her 9-5 and volunteer coaching, she founded Soccer for the Future, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings adaptive soccer to children with serious illnesses.

“We’re trying to get kids up and moving and having fun.”

Penman recalls coaching a girl who was staying in the United States until her treatment was complete.

Within three years, the girl went from not wanting to participate to running to soccer clinic.

Soccer for the Future promotes social interaction, physical activity regardless of a child’s abilities, and it adds normalcy back into children’s lives. Despite grant writing and funding obstacles, Penman is hopeful to bring Soccer for the Future to more locations.

—Maya Bingaman ’19