Former National Football League and United Football League Running Back Adrian N. Peterson presented SGMC Pearlman Cancer Center Medical Oncologist Eric Anderson, MD with an autographed football in honor of Peterson’s son, AJ, who lost his battle with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a rare, inoperable, brainstem tumor.
 
Peterson was in Valdosta to speak to the South Georgia Association of Nurse Practitioners at their regional meeting on Saturday, November 7. Peterson met Anderson while touring the Pearlman Cancer Center following several speaking engagements in the Valdosta area.
 
Peterson now devotes the majority of his time to his charitable foundation and mentoring youth.  He faced adversity as a child because of a speech impediment and now volunteers his spare time to help children with the same challenge. Life’s trials and tribulations taught Peterson to redefine success.  While being in the NFL brought Peterson notoriety and success, he now realizes that true success is defined by how much you are willing to do for others.
 
A Georgia Southern running back standout; Peterson broke several NCAA Division I-AA records and received the Walter Payton Award in 1999. He was drafted to the Chicago Bears in 2002 and played 8 seasons.