Devon Still accepts the Jimmy V. Perseverance Award on behalf of his daughter

July 15, 2015

Devon Still (BA Lib 2011), a former Penn State Football Captain and All- American defensive lineman, accepts the Jimmy V. Perseverance Award at the 2015 ESPYS in Los Angeles on behalf of his 5-year-old daughter, Leah. Leah Still was diagnosed with cancer in June 2014; her story inspired countless football fans around the world to raise millions of dollars for pediatric cancer research. Her good spirits and “never give up” attitude earned her the nickname “Leah Strong.” She went into remission in March 2015, but due to complications with her medication, was not well enough to attend the award ceremony. Devon Still, a Delaware native who was then playing for the NFL Cincinnati Bengals, was introduced by NBA superstar, LeBron James. When he took the stage, Still was greeted by a standing ovation from his peers. “I would beg [God] to give me the fight with death rather than my daughter,” he told the crowd in a very emotional speech. He continued, “At the age of four, my daughter hadn’t even begun to understand what life was all about. She’s the toughest person I’ve ever met and she has the mindset that nothing will hold her down.”