For years, the Chicago Bulls and Advocate Health Care have partnered to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for young patients who have overcome tremendous health challenges. Together, the organizations surprise the patient and their family with an all-expenses-paid trip to travel with the Bulls on the team plane, attend an away game and enjoy exclusive experiences.
Last season, the Bulls and Advocate selected 15-year-old Delvin McGee, who was diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoma in September 2025 after discovering a lump on his neck. Delvin spent nearly three weeks in the hospital and underwent months of chemotherapy. Throughout his treatment, he remained positive, kind and resilient.
Basketball has always been a major part of Delvin’s life. His talent earned him an opportunity to attend Simeon Career Academy, the same high school as Bulls legend Derrick Rose. Although his diagnosis prevented him from playing during the season, Delvin remained focused on returning to the court and pursuing his dream of playing in the NBA.
The Bulls and Advocate set out to create a legendary experience that recognized Delvin’s journey without allowing his diagnosis to define him. The goal was to create an experience that would celebrate his passion for basketball, surround him with support and show that Chicago stands behind its own.
The story was told through a long-form video that put emotional storytelling at the forefront. The video shows the highs and lows of Delvin’s tremendous health journey and what this trip meant to him as he looks forward to the future.
Part 1: A Chicago Surprise
Inspired by Delvin’s story and passion for basketball, the Bulls and Advocate designed a two-part, legendary experience: an emotional surprise rooted in his love for basketball and his school’s history of basketball greats.
The timing for the surprise aligned with the Bulls preparing to retire Chicago’s own Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey later that month. Delvin and his family were invited to tour the Advocate Center, not knowing what would be in store that day. They walked through the Bulls’ practice facility, met Bulls staff, and then visited the film room, where inside sat Bulls and Simeon legend Derrick Rose. Derrick was moved by Delvin’s story and felt connected to him as a Simeon alum, basketball player and a kid from Chicago.
To make the moment feel even more personal, the Bulls and Advocate brought together the people who had supported Delvin throughout his health journey, including his family, Advocate care team, Simeon basketball head coach Tim Flowers and the school’s varsity, sophomore and freshman boys’ basketball teams.
Surrounded by his community, Delvin learned that he and his family would travel with the Bulls on their team plane to New York, where the team would face off against the Brooklyn Nets. During the surprise, Delvin also shared that it would not only be his first time flying, but his first ever trip outside of Chicago. Before leaving the Advocate Center, Delvin got the chance to put up a few shots on the court, swishing his first three with Rose and his teammates cheering him on.
Part 2: The Trip
On the day of the trip, the team’s mascot, Benny The Bull, and other Bulls entertainers welcomed Delvin at the airport with full fan fare. Delvin then met each of the Bulls players, coaches and staff as they arrived, becoming a member of the team. Delvin walked onto the plane with former Bulls guard Coby White, who offered reassurance after learning it was Delvin’s first flight and trip outside Chicago.
In New York, he watched the Bulls warm up, stepped onto the Nets’ court to put up a few shots and even break down the team huddle. Each touchpoint was intentionally designed to go beyond exclusive access and give Delvin a sense of community and support after his long and often isolating health journey.
By grounding the experience in Delvin’s personal story and bringing together the communities central to his life, the Bulls and Advocate transformed a traditional surprise-and-delight moment into a personal celebration of resilience, connection and possibility.
The Bulls and Advocate supported the creation and execution of a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a Chicago kid that has journeyed through a tough cancer battle. The video conveys the emotional journey for Delvin and how the Bulls, Advocate care team, his teammates and family were there to support him along the way.
The content generated 1.3 million social impressions across nine posts on Instagram, Twitter/X and Facebook/Meta. Bulls fans were immediately drawn to Delvin and his story and were eager to spread the word as there were more than 3,300 shares across platforms.
The Bulls and Advocate wanted to create a surprise experience where Delvin’s experiences with lymphoma were honored, but he got to celebrate overcoming the journey with friends and family. He has remained strong and resilient, and the Bulls and Advocate wanted to make sure his perseverance was rewarded with a legendary experience and surprise that would last a lifetime.
