IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) –

Kinnick Stadium opened its doors for Children’s Day. The team used the event to announce its child captains for the season. The program honors patients of the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital each year with twelve captains.

Another tradition called “The Hawkeye Wave” honors the patients of the children’s hospital.

At home games, fans take a minute at the end of the first quarter to wave to the children watching the action from the hospital windows above the stadium.

Mya Gilchrist has watched many games from these windows.

“The Hawkeye Wave is my favorite part of football,” Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist was named Kid Captain and will be honored at the Hawkeyes’ game against Troy on September 14.

Gilchrist said she has been a patient at Children’s Hospital since she was 18 months old, when she was diagnosed with brain cancer. She battled through many rounds of chemotherapy and had two relapses.

Her brain tumor is now in remission. But in 2022 she was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer.

Her family said it doesn’t stop her from making a difference.

“She is so kind and gives back to so many people in our community. We also started the Mya Strong Foundation and she gives back to other children with cancer in Iowa,” said Brooke Gilchrist, Mya Gilchrist’s mother.

Now the Hawkeyes are giving something back to Gilchrist.

“I love Iowa Hawkeyes football and that’s what this is about,” Gilchrist said.

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