LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lacrosse is all about speed.

As the Manual boys lacrosse team practiced on a hot July day, they formed two lines and took turns aiming shots at the goal and audibly marveled when a teammate would catapult a try that sizzled louder than the one before it.

The lone goalkeeper tried his best to repel the barage. To be a lacrosse goalie, one needs considerable reflexes. The Guinness Book of World Records tallied the fastest shot ever at 119 miles-per hour. High schoolers typically reach the mid-80s.

Tate Miller, by his own admission and that of his teammates, is not the strongest player at Manual. His shot doesn't flirt with triple digits. But he is, by all accounts, one of the fastest on his feet.

At least he used to be. And he's working hard to be one of the fastest once again.

What You Need To Know

  • Manual boys lacrosse raised $3,145 in honor of Tate Miller, their teammate with cancer

  • Miller was diagnosed with Philadelphia Chromosome Leukemia in early 2020

  • Miller lost two toes and is working on returning for his sophomore season

"He’s just got a big heart on the field and off the field," senior Adam Lapinski said.

Last year when he was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called Philadelphia Chromosome Leukemia, Miller took it in stride.

"At first, I wasn’t really sure what Leukemia meant that much, so I was kind of excited just to get a couple days out of school, maybe," Miller recalled.

He said things started to become serious in his mind when doctors told him he needed chemotherapy.

"Then I realized it was a cancer," he said.

His teammates instantly wanted to help him and others going through the same fight. They started a “Fund the Number” campaign; asking for $29 dollar donations in honor of Miller’s jersey number. They raised $3,145 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"We struggle with homework; we struggle with competing against other teams," Head Coach Nathan Moore said. "He was struggling with a disease that was a life-saving battle, so it drew our players together to rally behind him."

Miller is now in remission. The disease cost him two of his toes, but none of his resolve.

"I want to be able to run again, because I lost two of my toes, so, I had to re-learn to walk and stuff," Miller said. "So, I want to be able to run."

To Miller and his teammates, it’s not a question of if he’ll play with his team again – only how quickly next season can arrive.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to asisst Tate Miller's Family with medical costs associated with his treatment.