The entire Philadelphia Union organization is mourning the loss of Fearless 43 member Maddie Harris who passed away on Tuesday after battling cancer. Maddie's connection to the club began in 2020 as part of the Fearless 43, a group of children fighting childhood cancer that Philadelphia Union has been working with to raise awareness during Kick Childhood Cancer month.
Through the program, both Alejandro Bedoya and homegrown Paxten Aaronson grew close with the teen as she underwent radiation, and the players invited Maddie and her family out as special guests at Subaru Park last season.
After the match, the duo met up with Maddie on the field where they gave her not one, but two surprise gifts. Paxten gifted her a custom No. 30 adidas KCC warmup top and signed it while Bedoya informed the teen that he would have her name displayed on the club's gold armband for all of September as part of #KickChildhoodCancer Month. Maddie was on the captain's shoulder and in his heart when he scored against Orlando City SC on September 10th. Union goalkeeper Andre Blake then wore the special armband the following week at Atlanta United where he turned in one of his strongest performances of the season.
We loved working with Maddie and the entire Harris family, and everyone at the Union is heartbroken that Maddie is gone. The years we shared with her were wonderful and memorable, and we send all our love and thoughts to the entire family and everybody else that loved her.
