Niskayuna girl, 12, to be honorary coach at UAlbany men's basketball's 'Play Your Heart Out Game'

Two Photos: Emma Duncan, left, will be the honorary coach for UAlbany men's basketball during Saturday's "Play Your Heart Out Game" against Vermont. (Photo provided); UAlbany's Gerald Drumgoogle Jan. 8 (Stan Hudy) — Emma Duncan, left, will be the honorary coach for UAlbany men's basketball during Saturday's "Play Your Heart Out Game" against Vermont. (Photo provided); UAlbany's Gerald Drumgoogle Jan. 8 (Stan Hudy)

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ALBANY — Saturday’s UAlbany men’s basketball game will be the Warren & Denyse Mackey Foundation’s “Play Your Heart Out Game,” honoring children with congenital heart defects.

Twelve-year-old Emma Duncan, of Niskayuna, will be the honorary coach during the game against Vermont at Hudson Valley Community College’s McDonough Sports Complex.

When Duncan was 2 months old, she was in the hospital and coded, and her parents didn’t know if she would ever come home. Today, she’s 12, and loves dance and horses.

A portion of the tickets to the game will benefit the American Heart Association Cardiac Kids program. These tickets need to be purchased by Thursday at https://fevogm.com/event/Warren.

“Emma loves being a part of the Cardiac Kids program,” her mother, Jennifer Duncan, said. “It’s a great support system for the families and Emma gets to be around other kids that have gone through some of the same experiences. Thank you to Denyse Mackey for letting us be a part of this special event and for helping to raise awareness for congenital heart defects.”

Denyse Mackey, the foundation’s founder, organized “Play Your Heart Out” as a way to celebrate American Heart Month and bring attention to congenital heart defects. Feb. 7-14 is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.

“One in 110 children are born with a congenital heart defect,” Denyse Mackey said in a release. “Our Foundation is focused on equitable health, and supporting research and families inflicted with heart and or cancer challenges. We are proud to support the Cardiac Kids of the Capital Region which embraces 90 other children like Emma with a support network.”

“We couldn’t be more humbled by the Mackey family for asking us to partner in their family work to build resources and awareness for the fight against congenital heart defects,” UAlbany head coach Dwayne Killings said. “It takes a special mentality to give more than you receive and the Mackey family does that every day with everything they do. We cannot wait to welcome Emma and her family to our program on Feb. 4 as we take on Vermont.”