Fall 2024

Chiefs Running Back Sings To Raise Awareness For Childhood Arthritis

Charcandrick West’s twitter bio says “With God anything is possible.” That’s a motto that the Kansas Chiefs running back lives by and he’s taken that faith to the recording studio to help bring awareness and support for children who have arthritis or a rheumatic condition.

A few weeks ago, West took to the microphone with “Singing for Superheroes” to help create a music video called “Body of Steel.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwFYxjkuUCU&lc=z12ad1qr3tbzvr51u22xdf5zgvjcgxdaf04

Charcandrick, along with 10-year-old Jillian Reid, recorded the song and created the music video as part of “Singing for Superheroes,” an organization that encourages and supports children battling for their lives through the power of music and song and making their music wishes come true.

West was diagnosed with arthritis at 14-years-old, and understands that there are much bigger things in life than football and wants to give back and help where he can.

“When you hear of arthritis, you think about older people,” West told the Kansas City Star. “Most overlook the fact that young kids can get it too. I want the world to be aware this can happen to a teenager, a 1-year-old baby, it can happen to anybody.”

West said he had no singing background and admitted to being very nervous going into a recording studio but he knew that this was an issue that needed to be made known.

“We’re so used to playing football. We’re out here beating each other up,” West told the Kansas City Star. “Arthritis can happen to any of us. I want the world to know about arthritis and how serious it is.”

It is estimated that as many as 300,000 children in the United States suffer from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. (Source: Rheumatoidarthritis.org)