Most moments in life are uncertain, but the release of the big red balloon that marks another successful year of Eric Montross Father’s Day Basketball Camp is not one of them. Gazing into the Carolina blue sky on Father’s Day Weekend, we remember Jason Clark, a 15-year-old cancer patient at UNC Children’s Hospital that our dad befriended his senior year of college. Jason’s vision of enhancing UNC Children’s Hospital to positively affect patients and their families guides our dad’s camp.

Father’s Day weekend has always been a particularly special holiday in our family. For us, this weekend represents love, joy, community, and hope. Friends and family flood our house as we spend countless hours packing camp bags and running around in preparation. Campers and their father figures travel from near and far to spend two days learning basic basketball skills from current and former men’s and women’s basketball players.

We have crawled, toddled, walked, run, and Andrew even attempted to dunk (which ended up viral on Instagram with the caption “tag someone with no hops”) on Roy Williams Court. From “Montross’ kids,” to campers, to volunteers, to coaches, we both agree being known as Montross’ kids is our favorite label. The man many know as “Bloody Montross’’ or “Big Grits” is who we call dad. Sure, he was a decent basketball player who won a national championship, but he is so much more to us. He is someone who nerds out on wildlife, plants fields of corn and clover in his free time, and carefully shapes wood into gifts on his lathe.

He is a dad who genuinely enjoys connecting with every person he encounters and making them feel like an old friend. A dad who goes out of his way to learn about and advocate for the needs of sick children by fostering relationships with hospital janitors, patients, families, social workers, nurses and physicians. A dad whose selfless and kind demeanor has transformed lives around him, including ours.

Admittedly, we did not fully appreciate all that camp represents until we aged out as campers at 13. Years later at 23 and 25, we are still learning. What started as an avenue to raise money for the Jason Clark Teen Lounge and Game Room has transformed into much more. Camp has funded colorful murals that stretch along the walls of UNC Children’s, creating a warm environment for patients, family members, and staff at every turn. It has supported the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation (which aims to assist adolescent and young adult cancer patients and their families), enhanced the child and adolescent mental health programs at UNC, and purchased medical simulation mannequins and other high-tech equipment.

Camp represents much more than a simple sports competition. The weekend brings families together as young kids look forward to a mini sleepaway camp in a dorm room, while father figures pack their bags with Advil and NyQuil to get through the night on college mattresses. Both parties anxiously await bussing to the Smith Center to meet their college basketball idols and shoot hoops on Roy Williams Court.

In the bleary first morning of camp, all eyes gravitate towards the big screens, mesmerized by Jason’s story and the history of camp. Kids squirm, (im)patiently waiting to dribble a basketball, while dads struggle to keep their tears at bay. The importance of UNC Children’s and camp’s mission becomes clear.

Through all the dad jokes and lectures, this we hold certain: our dad is a wonderful man. We feel so grateful to have grown up with him as our role model, standing side by side, year after year, as the big red balloon drifts away each Father’s Day weekend.

Would you like to show your support of Eric Montross as he continues to fight cancer? You can purchase Big Grits Fight Cancer stickers or magnets from Tobacco Road Media by clicking here. At Eric and Laura’s direction, all proceeds go to UNC AYA Cancer Program.