Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Ricky Rubio has launched his "I am Ready" project in the U.S., designed to bring virtual reality to pediatric cancer patients, NBA.com reported Dec. 12.
The VR program works to explain patient procedures to children to reduce anxiety. Mr. Rubio's mother's 2016 struggle and death from cancer inspired the project.
The program started with treatment of 10 kids in Mr. Rubio's birth country of Spain and has now treated over 300.
"It's virtual VR in the hospital and the cartoon explains everything to the kids," Mr. Rubio said. "It has me doing things like tying my shoes and getting ready for basketball. It has the doctors telling them how it's going to be then we go into the treatment room to see the machines. I think it helps their brains for them to see how it's going to be. The kids feel safer and more familiar with what's going on."