Bears name Mackenzie Carrans 2024 Fan of the Year

In addition to her dedication to the Bears, Carrans was selected as the team’s nominee because of her commitment to supporting cancer patients. Carrans was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2013, and once she was five years cancer-free in 2019, she threw a fundraising party for the local hospital where she was being treated.

What started as a small way to celebrate her remission and give back to others has grown into an annual fundraising event called “Mac-Attack.” Over the past five years, Carrans has raised more than $77,000 to financially support additional needs of cancer patients, such as food and transportation.

“One of the things I realized when I was going through treatment was that you sit there, spending long days in chemotherapy, and the doctors provide them with food,” Currence said. “But patients, if there is no one with you during chemotherapy, who will follow you to eat? That’s where it all started – with the realization that patients needed different help.

“Especially in the year of the pandemic, we realized that some people needed a ride. One day the hospital took someone home after chemotherapy and they realized that the patient had sold all of his belongings to pay for chemotherapy. So we bought this man a bed. So, we’re just a side event for (the local hospital), but we have a lot of fun throwing parties and raising awareness.”

Carrans is proud that her involvement in the community helped her win the Fan of the Year award. The annual celebration of the NFL recognizes outstanding fans who make game day better through their unwavering love of football, embody the essence of true fandom and inspire their communities throughout the year.

“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason,” Currence said. “I feel like getting cancer is a good thing because, first of all, I was a workaholic before, so it kept me alive. But then it made me just want to be a better person because I was like, “How can I help other people have a good experience?” Trying to always make people smile and do something good for others is something I’ve always wanted to do. There is too much negativity in this world.”