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Kiick's Daughter Finds Way to Honor Him

Allie Kiick has started a fundraising efforts for the Concussion Legacy Foundation in honor of her late father, former Dolphins running back Jim Kiick

Alain Poupart

Former Dolphins running back Jim Kiick died June 20, and his daughter Allie has come up with the perfect way to honor the memory of her father.

Allie Kiick, a professional tennis player on the International Tennis Federation circuit, has started a fundraising campaign on Facebook for research on concussions and CTE.

The fundraising campaign began Friday and already has surpassed the initial goal of $5,021 — with the "21" an homage to Kiick's jersey number with the Dolphins — with a total of $6,475 as of mid-afternoon Saturday. The new goal is $21,000 with 26 days left in the campaign for the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

The Concussion Legacy Foundation's mission, according to Allie Kiick, is to support athletes, veterans, and all affected by concussions and CTE; achieve smarter sports and safer athletes through education and innovation; and toeEnd CTE through prevention and research.

To that end, Allie said her father's brain was donated to the foundation for research.

"My dad always wanted to help others, he had the biggest heart in the world, so we know he would’ve wanted to play a part in finding a cure for CTE.... now he will," Allie wrote on Facebook. "He will one day be a part of history.

"The night before my dad passed away, I sat with my mom on my bed and she asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday (June 30th). I told her I wanted my family to go over to my dads facility so we could all sing happy birthday. I haven’t been able to spend a birthday with my dad nor my family because I’m usually overseas playing tennis, so I’ve decided I wanted to think about the best way I could honor my dad."

Allie Kiick indicated in an emotional social media post shortly before her father's death that he had been afflicted with Alzheimer's, a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.

Jim Kiick died at the age of 73.

RELATED: Paying tribute to former Dolphins running back Jim Kiick

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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