Teammate diagnosed with cancer means entire teams shaved their heads in support

FRENCH SETTLEMENT — Tight-knit communities come together in times of need to show love and support.

French Settlement High School freshman Remy Cramer was recently diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma and scheduled to begin chemo treatments on Aug. 24. In support of Cramer, members of the boys basketball team and baseball team from French Settlement High School, shaved their heads to show support to their teammate and friend.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Ewing Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in bones or the soft tissue around the bones.

Jake Bourgeois, French Settlement boys basketball coach, said Cramer came to French Settlement from Albany two years ago, and he joined the basketball team in May.

“Remy, he’s an amazing kid,” Bourgeois said. “He’s one of those kids that walks in the room, and the huge smile on his face makes everybody’s day better. I got to know Remy when he moved here from Albany in seventh grade.”

Bourgeois coaches the high school team but teaches the middle school. He said he loved building bonds with the kids early before they played for him at the high school level.

“Remy fit right in,” the coach said. “He became friends with almost all the guys right away. He’s only been on our team for a few months, but I’ve known him for years. He’s been knowing most of the guys on the team for years, and they’re all friends.”

French Settlement Principal John Chewning said the news of Cramer’s diagnosis hit him hard. Chewning said he’s known Cramer since he coached him in baseball when he was eight.

“He started playing for me, and then he and my son became really good friends,” he said. “He started coming here with us, and he and my son have been really good friends for several years now. He’s been in our house for years, and we’ve gone on vacations together. He’s almost like another son to me. It was really tough. It was emotional. It’s still emotional. We’re just trying to figure it out and be there for him.”

Cramer is known for the slogan “Geaux Next” that his parents created. Bourgeois said they’re going to keep shouting it in support.

“When Remy was in baseball, his parents created this slogan for him,” he said. “Whenever he faced obstacles or messed up or got upset with himself, they would just yell at him ‘Geaux Next’ basically move on to the next play. Keep your head up. You’ll be fine.”

“They kind of embraced that motto here,” he added. “This is just another obstacle. We’re just going to ‘Geaux Next’ and face it head-on. We’re going to attack it with him, have his back, and we’re gonna get through this together.”

Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on any new developments.