The University of Connecticut baseball team has welcomed its newest member : 5-year-old Grayson Hand of Sturbridge , Massachusetts . Hand , who is battling leukemia , joins the Huskies with the help of Team IMPACT , an organization that matches children with life-threatening and chronic illness to college sports teams . The Hartford Courant reports seniors Carson Cross and Blake Davey were inspired to get involved with the Boston-based organization after hearing positive stories from the UConn men 's hockey team , which also welcomed a youngster to their team . Scroll down for video . The University of Connecticut baseball team has taken on its newest member : 5-year-old Grayson Hand , who is battling leukemia . Hand will have his own locker with the team as its newest member . Hand will have his own locker and can attend as many games and practices as he likes . The Courant added that Hand 's sister , Sophie , 7 , was named an honorary cheerleader . The announcement was made with father Nate and mother Lauren at his side . 'This is a physical representation of the emotional support we 've received , ' Nate Hand told reporters . 'Cancer is not an individual illness . It affects the entire family . We all have symptoms , me , my son , my daughter , my wife . His are in his body . Ours are emotional and on our shoulders . But it is as a team that we work through this . ' Hand 's sister Sophie , 7 , was also taken on as an honorary cheereleader . Father Nate Hand called the partnership a physical representation of the outpouring of support they 've received .
Grayson Hand , 7 , joined the Huskies as part of Team IMPACT , which matches children with life-threatening illness with college teams . Hand 's sister Sophie , 5 , will be an honorary cheerleader . Hand has been given his own locker and is welcome at every game and practice .