This Pair's Beautiful Friendship Will Fill Your Heart With March Gladness

[Cali_Democrat]

The Huffington Post | by Ron Dicker

Sometimes stories emerge during March Madness that force you to put down your brackets and pay attention to what's really important. The friendship between Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne and 8-year-old Lacey Holsworth is one of those stories.

They met two years ago when the Spartans visited a hospital where Lacey was getting treatment for neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer of the nerve tissue. Their relationship has thrived, and they reportedly text every day.

As the Washington Post notes, Payne attended a fundraiser for Lacey, and Lacey, who was Payne's guest on senior night, helped him cut down the net after Michigan State won the Big Ten tournament.

Now that Payne and Michigan State have advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, the duo's touching bond continues to move fans. A video posted by the Big Ten Network earlier this month covers Payne and Lacey in tear duct-draining detail (watch at link).

"She's like a sister to me," Payne says in the segment. "I love him," Lacey declares.

If your favorite team has been eliminated, you might just cheer for Payne and Michigan State on the basis of the video alone.

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/24/adreian-payne-lacey-friendship-michigan-state_n_5021300.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

[FSogol]

1. Nice story, thanks for posting. Athletes get bashed a lot, but a lot of them are really

decent, caring, people. Keep up the good work, Adreian.

[progressoid]

2. ...

[leftynyc]

3. And now I'm rooting HARD for Michigan State

What a wonderful story.

[vankuria]

4. Me too!

Great story, love hearing positive stories about student athletes!

[leftynyc]

5. Just looked at the schedule

They play #1 Virginia on Friday night at 9:57PM - Bill Maher will be tivoed

[vankuria]

6. Thank-you Leftynyc!

[leftynyc]

11. YEEHAW - On to the Elite Eight

Michigan State beats #1 Virginia 61-59!!!

[blue neen]

7. That's such a touching story.

Adreian Payne and Lacey have a very special relationship...I hope they get to continue it for a very long time.

[Scuba]

8. Payne is also, in my humble opinion, the best player in the B1G. Glad to see this story ....

... I'm not at all surprised to learn he's a fine person as well. Thanks.

[cali]

9. That made me well up. what a lovely story. thanks for posting it.

[Berlum]

10. Great story

Thanks for posting...

[JI7]

12. such a nice story

[Cha]

13. Malaho, Cali.. nice to see a heartwarming story on DU.. after all the days of

hyperbolic infused hate.

"They met two years ago when the Spartans visited a hospital where Lacey was getting treatment for neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer of the nerve tissue. Their relationship has thrived, and they reportedly text every day."