Spanish Fork football team plays for alumni's late daughter

Spanish Fork football team plays for alumni's late daughter

(Brynn Jolley, Sunnydays Photography)


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SPANISH FORK — Friday night, the Spanish Fork High School football team will play in honor of a little girl whose father once played on the same field.

Dallin Naulu was an all-state wide receiver for Spanish Fork High School before he graduated in 2008. He then married his wife, Caitlin — who also attended the high school — in 2011, and together, they had a little girl named Auni.

At seven months old, Auni was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 1, a genetic disease in which babies and children experience weakness of the voluntary muscles in their arms and legs.

"...Around like 3 or 4 months, we noticed … her muscles were kind of weak," Caitlin Naulu said. "Like when I would try to stand her up on her legs she wouldn't support any weight."

After her diagnosis, the Naulu's gave Auni two daily breathing treatments and eventually fed her through a tube. On Sept. 11, the 21-month-old girl died.

"Through all of this, Auni was just from the very beginning she was just a very vocal, social … little girl and just so happy all the time. So, so happy," Caitlin Naulu said.

Spanish Fork High School head football coach, Jordan Smith, said Friday's football game will be dedicated to Auni and they will hold a fundraiser and raise awareness for spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA.

Many people have donated food that will be sold at the event and the team will resell the black jerseys they purchased for the game for $80.

(Photo: Courtesy of the Naulu family)
(Photo: Courtesy of the Naulu family)

During halftime, the crowd will see a tribute to Auni, participate in a moment of silence and release more than 400 purple and orange balloons — the colors that represent spinal muscular atrophy — that can be purchased for $1.

They can also buy purple and orange wristbands and both football teams will wear orange sweatbands, Smith said.

There will also be locations at the game where people can make donations. All the money will be donated to the Naulu family.

Those who will be unable to attend the game can donate to a GoFundMe* account. Donations will go toward medical expenses.

"We've just been … blown away just from all of the love and support that is possible when everyone comes together … it has definitely changed our lives forever," she said.

Smith, who played sports with Dallin Naulu in high school, said Spanish Fork is a tight-knit community and this situation has affected the community.

"We're excited and happy to do this and … maybe help them in any way that we can," Smith said. "Obviously it's so difficult to lose a child, but I hope … this can help financially, emotionally and kind of be somewhat of a relief and a help for them."

Spanish Fork will play Alta High School at 7 p.m. on Friday at Spanish Fork High School.

*KSL.com does not assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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