FOXBORO, MA – 47 was the number top of mind at Gillette Stadium on Labor Day weekend as lacrosse fans filled the stadium. The matchup between the Redwoods vs. Chaos raising funds to support the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation – knowing 47 is the number of children diagnosed with cancer each day.
Dedicated to raising awareness, funds, and providing families battling the disease with meaningful experiences, the Premier Lacrosse League & Fxck Cancer joined forces to offer PCRF families a one-of-a-kind experience at Gillette Stadium. “We got them a limo, we got them a suite, all you can eat all you can drink field experiences and we like to do those experiences so they can feel cancer free for a day,” explains Bonnie Lattimore, Director of Strategic Partnerships at PCRF.
Max Gagnon – “Seeing the first ball of the game, that was really fun.”
With a perfect view of the field from the Dell box suites stocked with popcorn, candy, and classic childhood fave foods, the little LAX fans were able to soak in every goal surrounded by family & friends fundraising for research. “They say that kids are only 10% of the population, we like to say they’re 100% of our future,” smiled Lattimore. “But because he government sees it as such a small portion of the population, only 4% of federal funding goes towards it so it’s left up to different charities like PCRF to fill that gap.”
Celebrating 40 years of making advancements in research, PCRF challenged the Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse to do 47 reps each week & raise 47 dollars during the month of May in preparation for the September event. “They raised over 42,000 dollars which is amazing. We also had the Nick Gaspar foundation raise about 28,000 so I think the total was 71 or 72,000 which was amazing.”
That check was presented on the field at Gillette Stadium before the Redwoods’ Wes Berg tied a PLL record of 7 goals against his former team, Chaos. Yet win or lose, all who stepped on the field that day were together in achieving a greater win.
“Lacrosse is important to all of us, it makes all of our respective lives better and more exciting, but it pales in comparison to the real fight that people have especially diagnosed with a disease like that,” said Andy Towers, Head Coach of Chaos Lacrosse Team during a post-game press conference. “For the league to bring awareness to that, celebrate awareness to that, hopefully increases the fight and accelerates the cure. If the PLL is a small part of that effort, then it’s clearly got its priorities set right.”
Click here to learn more about the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation or Fxck Cancer, visit their websites.
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Emmalyn Reid 