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Andalusia senior kicker Reese Burkhardt loves to kick and this season he will be using his leg to raise money for childhood cancer research.

Burkhardt is in the top 50 kicking prospects in the nation and wanted to do something more than just kick, so he teamed up with Kick-It For Cancer to raise money for childhood cancer research.

“I decided to participate in Kick-It to bring meaning and purpose to my last season at Andalusia High School,” Burkhardt said. “With each point I score, money will be contributed to kids with cancer. Being a part of a team has brought me thrilling experiences and strong friendships, and I want to give these kids a chance to have the same.”

Burkhardt said it was just something that he wanted to do.

“It’s an organization that we found out about at kicking camp,” Burkhardt said. “Basically, every point I score, you set certain amount of money you want to give, and it’s all donated to cancer research. It’s my senior season. I feel like when I’m kicking for a purpose instead of just myself. I feel like it makes me a do a lot better and it’s for a good cause.”

Seeing families go through childhood cancers was something that made Burkhardt want to take up this cause.

“One of our close family friends when I was little had a little girl that lost a battle to cancer,” Burkhardt said. “I saw how it affected all of the families around us. Even if it’s not your family, it still affects everyone. I just learned at an early age that fight against cancer is great and we just need everything we can to help beat it.”

Pledges can be made for each point that Burkhardt scores, or one can donate a fixed amount.

To make a donation or pledge to Burkhardt, go to https://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1734312.

Kick-It For Cancer is a part of the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation where the primary focus is to find better treatments and cures for all childhood cancers. ALSF is doing everything it can to speed up the research that will help these children. In addition, ALSF provides resources such as sibling programs, treatment journals, community forums and more to support childhood cancer families.

Burkhardt is one the top rated kickers in the state.

“I’m going to try to be 100-perecnt touchbacks on kickoff,” Burkhardt said. “I hope to hit a game winner because I haven’t had one yet.”

During the summer, Burkhardt attended several kicking camps.

“I went Georgia Tech, Georgia, Auburn, UAB and a lot of other big schools,” Burkhardt said. “I also went to a couple of ranking camps and I was ranked 42nd in the nation in my class.”