Seattle’s Morris shares Type 1 Diabetes story with Pumas fan

MEXICO CITY – Wednesday night will mark the start of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League between the Seattle Sounders and Pumas in which a stadium full of Pumas fans will be cheering on their team in the first leg in Mexico City.

One of those Pumas fans in attendance will be 15-year-old Laila Lamadrid Garcia Cano, but those sitting around Laila should not be surprised if she also offers her support for Sounders FW Jordan Morris.

It is because the two share something in common, in that they both live with Type 1 Diabetes.

From afar, Laila has become a big fan of the Seattle forward for what he has accomplished as someone who plays professional football with Type 1 Diabetes, and so while she may be a big Pumas fan, it has been her dream to meet Morris.

That dream came true on Tuesday during the Sounders’ training session at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario where the two teams will play on Wednesday night.

Laila Lamadrid Garcia Cano had the opportunity to meet Morris and the two shared their respective experiences living with Type 1 Diabetes. There was also a jersey exchange at the end that left both Morris and Laila grinning from ear-to-ear.

Morris’ outreach to Laila is all part of his effort to bring more awareness to Type 1 Diabetes, which includes the Jordan Morris Foundation, whose mission is to educate, inspire and support children living with Type 1 Diabetes.

The Jordan Morris Foundation aims to achieve that goal via community outreach and fundraising to support a variety of programs, including school visits, community talks and the annual soccer Camps for Kids with T1D, plus the establishment of the JMO Fund at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

While Laila and the rest of the Pumas fans will be loud and proud on Wednesday night at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario, she will no doubt be rooting Morris as well.