At six years old, Layla Crews should have been spending her days lost in the quiet magic of childhood — coloring outside the lines, mastering her first days of grade school, and making friends in an unfamiliar new city. Instead, her world was upended by a diagnosis no family is ever prepared to hear: leukemia.
In December 2024, the Crews family relocated to Charlotte from New York, eager for a fresh start. But just two months later, in February 2025, a sudden bout with the flu left Layla battling severe sepsis. By August, as she began her second-grade year while playing flag football, her energy faltered again. The fatigue grew persistent, leading to a series of urgent ER visits throughout September. On October 6, 2025, doctors confirmed their worst fears — Layla had leukemia.
Yet, throughout grueling months of medical procedures and ongoing treatments, Layla remained steadfast. “Layla has been a trooper,” her mother, Lauren Crews, said. “She’s okay with whatever is thrown at her.”
While her physical resilience kept her moving forward, the isolation of moving to a new state while undergoing intensive medical care left Layla yearning for something more: a true sense of belonging.
That connection arrived through Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit organization that matches children facing serious illnesses with collegiate athletic programs. On September 7, 2026, the Winthrop University volleyball team officially signed Layla as the newest member of their roster, assigning her an official jersey and her own dedicated spot on the team: #1.
The signing carried an extra touch of inspiration for the entire Crews household, especially Layla’s older sister, Kyla. A high school student-athlete with a deep love for volleyball herself, Kyla is making Layla’s dynamic connection with the Eagles all the more special as the sisters share in the excitement of college-level play.
For Winthrop Volleyball Head Coach Heather Gearhart, bringing Layla into the program was an opportunity that stirred both deep empathy and profound purpose.
“It’s exciting, but sad, because that means there is a child in our area who is going through something difficult,” Gearhart reflected. “In the volleyball community, there are a lot of Team IMPACT participants. We looked into it and saw a whole organization providing a community for the team and kids. Our program at Winthrop provides a platform to do more than just play volleyball. The kids in Team IMPACT don’t care about the wins and losses — they find it cool to be involved.”
After months of waiting for a match, the program found Layla living nearby in the Charlotte area. The impact was immediate and mutual.
“Layla is pretty independent,” Gearhart shared with a smile. “She’s shy, but sassy — she’s 6 going on 16. College athletes are under a lot of pressure, and this gives them a sense of identity and purpose outside of the sport. Layla has a joy, excitement, and eagerness that our team sees. She provides a perspective to the team — a grounding about life. We’ve taken a lot of lessons from her. Layla has shown our players how to be brave in their own ways, and she has a mental fortitude that’s helped us realize not to let one thing take you too far one way or another.”
The relationship has extended far beyond the volleyball court. Layla has formed bonds with the student-athletes and their younger siblings, finding comfort and joy in times when she needs it most.
“Layla has been lonely and needed a connection,” Lauren explained. “The team has made her feel special and treated her with love. Being involved with Team IMPACT and Winthrop volleyball has brought a lot more positivity and things that we can all look forward to. Layla talks about the girls often and wants to be with them. This has given her something far from all of the medical stuff she’s dealt with this past year. Plus, she’s been able to reach out to the girls when she’s having a bad day. They’ve all developed a special relationship. We are so thankful to the volleyball team. They have their own lives, but have been dedicated to Layla. That’s tremendous — they’re awesome girls and coaches.”
For Layla’s father, Sean Crews, the partnership has offered a lifeline for the entire family as they navigate life in a new state.
“Since we joined, it’s been a blessing,” Sean said. “We didn’t know anyone here and needed support for Layla. They’ve been transformational in their support for Layla and us. The partnership between Team IMPACT and Winthrop Volleyball has been divine. As parents who’ve been locked in on Layla and her treatment, it’s also allowed us to make a few friends. We needed this as a family to help us all get through this.”
Winthrop Athletics has a strong tradition with Team IMPACT, recently earning national recognition when junior student-athletes Emmy Cardenas and Raegan Hornung helped the department secure the 2026 Team IMPACT National Teammate of the Year award.
As Layla enters the final phases of her treatment, she does so backed by an entire university roster cheering her on every step of the way.
“We always want people in this program who are strong, courageous, and brave,” Coach Gearhart said. “Layla fits right into that and is already a great example of all the intangibles that we strive to have as Winthrop Eagles.”
