Lauren Hill retires from basketball, will coach and raise money for cancer research

Lauren Hill’s dream was to play in a college basketball game. She ended up accomplishing that and much more. Now, the 19-year-old has decided to retire from playing, but will remain part of the Mount St. Joseph women’s basketball program as a honorary coach. She also plans to continue to raise money for cancer research.

Hill, who has an inoperable form of brain cancer called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), played in her first game on Nov. 2. She went on to play in three more. She does not plan to return to school for the second semester, according to a Greg Noble of WCPO. Instead of attempting to gain special eligibility from the NCAA -- since she would no longer be a student -- Hill opted to retire and stay with the program as a honorary coach while also continuing to raise money to find a cure for DIPG. Her coach, Dan Benjamin, announced the decision in an email on Wednesday. Via WCPO:

”On behalf of Lauren Hill, her family, Mount St. Joseph University and our Women’s basketball program we would like to thank the NCAA for everything they have done in granting and making Lauren’s dream of playing college basketball come true!

”At this time it is Lauren’s wish to remain on as a Honorary Coach!

”We would like to thank the public for all their continued support for Lauren and her goal to reach $1 million dollars by December 31st.

“Donations can be made to The Cure Starts Now.”

According to WCPO, Hill has already raised more than $700,000 on behalf of The Cure Starts Now Foundation. Her story has received national attention and she even got her own NBA Live 15 cover and a personalized Wheaties box.

You can read more about Lauren’s story -- and help her reach her $1 million goal -- at The Cure Starts Now.