Tufts offensive lineman George Brereton, E12, presents a Tufts football jersey to 8-year-old Riley Roman at Tufts University's Zimman Field on May 2, 2012. Roman, who has a brain tumor signed a "National Letter of Intent" to join the football team and was visiting Tufts as part of partnership with Team IMPACT. (Kelvin Ma/Tufts University)

Last Wednesday Rob Ninkovich from the New England Patriots visited Tufts for a “draft day” for Riley Roman, an eight-year-old from South Hadley, MA, who was recently diagnosed with a PNET brain tumor, which is an invasive and rapidly growing tumor that has the potential to spread very quickly. Riley underwent major brain surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment at Children’s Hospital Boston. Due to the invasive nature of the treatment, he is currently living at the Ronald McDonald house.

Tufts quarterback Matt Johnson, E14, competes in a pushup contest with Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich on behalf of 8-year-old Riley Roman at Tufts University's Zimman Field on May 2,(Kelvin Ma/Tufts University)

Team Impact, a Quincy-based organization that strives to improve the quality of life for children facing adverse issues and events by establishing and expanding team-based support networks, helped to stage this “draft day.”  Four Team Impact board members are Tufts alumni, including Dan Kraft (son of Robert Kraft). The event was staged like the NFL Combine (which all potential draft picks go through), and then the team  “drafted” Riley, with a signing of a “letter of intent.” Ninkovitch became friends with Riley when he was making a visit to the hospital.