A Father's Final Goal Lives On as His Family Completes 365 Days of Playing Catch

In March of 2024, Cory Wiederin of Ankeny, Iowa, found out he had cancer. He passed away in January of 2026 from a rare form of kidney cancer, leaving behind his wife, Brittany, and two boys, Kellen, 12, and Beckett, 8. But the three of them are helping keep Cory’s spirit alive by continuing one of his important goals.

It was a day in March of 2024 that Cory called out for his wife from another room. He had passed blood in his urine, which led to surgeries, a clinical trial, and radiation. Unfortunately, the cancer kept spreading. And a heartbreaking reality for the whole family.

Cory Loved Bonding With His Boys

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But one thing about Cory is that he loved bonding with his boys. When he knew his days would be limited, he decided to set a goal: playing catch with his boys for 365 days in a row. A perfect goal for a baseball-loving family.

“We would always laugh and talk,” Kellen shares. They would throw the ball 20 times, ending on a pop fly.

 "I didn’t know which would be my last one," the young boy said. "So I tried spending as much time with him."

The Family Got to Go to Wrigley Field in Chicago

They also got to go to Wrigley Field in Chicago; they are all big Cubs fans, and he and his family threw out the first pitch.

“It’s like pain went away for 48 hours,” Brittany says. “We got to sing, ‘Go Cubs Go!’” They even played catch in the hotel room. “It was beautiful.”

By the fall of 2025, Cory had gotten worse and made the difficult decision to enter hospice.

“We would tell each other, ‘If you make it to October, you have to make it through October,” Brittany shares.

He was able to make it through October, celebrating their anniversary and birthdays.

Even though Cory had become so weak, they still continued to play catch each day. “On his last few days, he was still fighting,” Kellen says. “And he never stopped fighting.” 

In total, the Wiederins played catch for 289 days. Cory passed away on January 13, 2026. And although the family is grieving, Cory showed them how to handle hard better. Which is why they wanted to finish Cory’s challenge. “I knew we had to finish it for Cor,” Brittany says. “No pun intended, I could not drop the ball on this one.”

The Family Finished Their Dad’s Goal to Keep Playing Catch

Brittany and her boys kept the challenge going. At the funeral, and the two months that followed. They finally reached 365 days. “It felt like I was right by him,” Beckett shares.

But they didn’t stop there. They are still playing catch every day, over 400 days later. Missing and remembering their day. And getting through the hard stuff each and every day. We wish Brittnay, Kellen, and Beckett many blessings as they move forward after the loss of Cory, never forgetting what he taught them about life.

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"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." – Psalm 34:18

WATCH: This Family Finishes Their Dad’s Goal of Playing Catch for 365 Days

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h/t: KCCI

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/KCCI

Julie Provost is a GodUpdates staff writer and editor. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, three boys, and little dog Max. She loves to read, go to the movies, and enjoy time with family and friends.