Ball State golfer Justin Cross is no stranger to stress. Whether it was facing a tricky downhill putt or a tough finance exam, Cross met the challenge. Now, Cross is up against something much more dangerous than any golf shot or college exam ever could be.
That something is cancer.
After his freshman season at Ball State in 1999, Cross was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of leukemia with about 4,000 new cases reported each year in the United States, according to the National Marrow Donor Program. The news came as a surprise to all those who knew Cross, including Ball State head coach Mike Fleck.
"I was shocked," Fleck said. "Here was a healthy college student that was doing everything he was supposed to do to take care of his body. It was hard to believe that this could happen to such a healthy kid."
To combat the disease, Cross underwent a series of chemotherapy treatments that brought headaches and nausea. The rigorous treatments worked, though, and Cross's cancer went into remission in time for him to earn a letter as part of Ball State's 2001-2002 golf team. The disease and his time away from the game changed Cross' approach to golf, Fleck said.
"I think it put it into perspective for him," he said. "It isn't as urgent for him anymore to put up high scores or make every shot perfect. It is more of a game of enjoyment for him now. He is still very competitive, though."
His new outlook on life and the game of golf did not go unnoticed by his teammates either.
"It has been invaluable," Fleck said. "He works so hard. He is the kind of person that other players notice, and he rubs off on them."
This past season was Cross' best for the Cardinals. He managed a 76.00 average on the links and maintained a 3.35 grade point average as a finance major on his way to being named to the Academic All Mid-American Conference First Team and a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar.
Unfortunately, the good times didn't last. Cross' illness returned this spring and he is searching for a bone marrow donor. He has a 30 percent chance of finding a match within his family, so he may need an unrelated donor.
To aid Cross in his search, Ball State Athletics and the Ball Memorial Hospital Blood Bank will conduct a blood and bone marrow drive today from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on the south balcony of Irving Gymnasium. At the time of blood donation, each donor who meets the requirements of the National Marrow Donor Program will have the option of having a tube of blood drawn for bone marrow testing. The results of those tests will be registered with NMDP. Although this search is for Cross, donors are encouraged to consider donating to any patient who is a match.
"We hope to help Justin," Fleck said, "but we know the chances of that aren't the best. We just want to make people aware and show them that they can make a difference in someone's life."
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