Inaugural LaCROSSe Out Cancer-a HUGE Success!
As many of you may have read in my last blog, we recently launched the inaugural LaCROSSe Out Cancer Challenge held in partnership with the Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League. Players who accepted the challenge completed 47 reps (either passing with a partner or on a wall) each day for one week straight to represent the 47 kids who are diagnosed with pediatric cancer each day in the US. They also asked friends and family to donate $47 to support their efforts. To date, we have passed our goal of $30,000 and are currently at $32,328 raised all for pediatric cancer research! I wanted to give a special shout out to our top fundraising team Mansfield Youth Lacrosse who raised $7,005, and our top fundraiser Quinn Pisciotta who raised $2,868!
Jake, Brett, and Colin Riley from Arlington Youth Lacrosse also participated in the LaCROSSe Out Cancer Challenge raising an amazing $611! To Jake, Brett, and Colin, the cause had special meaning as they accepted the challenge in honor of their youngest cousin Hadley who is almost 3 years old and was diagnosed with neuroblastoma as a newborn. They were #ALLINFORHADLEY while completing their reps each day!
Hadley was born with a tumor near her tailbone and within days of her birth, she was taken over to Boston Children’s Hospital for treatment. She has been treated at the Jimmy Fund at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since leaving Boston Children’s Hospital, and when she was a year old she was able to have surgery to remove the tumor. While the surgery was successful, Hadley continues to go in for regular scans and today is a thriving 2-year-old who loves to show everyone her personality.
“When I saw the LaCROSSe Out Cancer challenge pop up in my email, I knew that this would be the perfect way for the boys to combine what they love- Hadley and lacrosse. As a family, we are so appreciative of all the care and support that Hadley and our extended family have received over the past three years. Hadley is a healthy and happy 2-year-old and we are hopeful that many more kids can cross out cancer like she has! #ALLINFORHADLEY” -Kate Riley, mother of Jake, Brett, and Colin
The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation funds pediatric research all over the country and is currently funding research at Dana-Farber and Mass General in the state of Massachusetts. Funds from this inaugural LaCROSSe Out Cancer Challenge will be staying in Massachusetts, however, if any other youth sports programs want to participate in a similar challenge in their state, please let me know and we would love to set up a program to fund pediatric cancer research in your state!
