A high school’s men’s lacrosse team is walking to raise money for breast cancer research and testing. Inspired by the team’s coach, Jonathan Oswaks, the Crespi High School team located in Encino, CA is walking the equivalent of a round trip from Los Angeles to New York where the team will match up with 3 Long Island lacrosse teams in the Spring. Those team members from Sewanhaka, Hewlett and H. Frank Carey High Schools are also participating in this fundraiser and all are walking an astounding 5,500 miles.
The idea of a group of teen, male athletes raising money for a women’s issue was incredible to me. This coach and some of his athletes have had personal experience in dealing with breast cancer in their own families and it is the belief of this coach that every young person will be touched by this disease in their lifetime. With an army of high school athletes out in their communities raising money for this cause, the funding that would be provided for the researchers and for testing is incredible. They would be making a real difference and hopefully be the hope for the future to wipe out this disease in their generation.
Therefore, I am asking for your help. Please check out the website at crespi.dojiggy.com. Here you will find lots of opportunities to make a difference. If you are able to make a financial contribution or contribute something to the silent auction, that would be fabulous. Every dollar that is collected will go to the lacrosse team’s event that will be held on February 14, 2009.
However, that is not the only goal. I would suggest that you take a look at the “Coach’s Challenge”. He is asking that every coach in every sport at every high school across this country get behind this initiative and raise money for this cause. Perhaps you can initiate such a walk to raise money in your community. If that is not a possibility, maybe you would be willing to contact all of your “friends” on MySpace and Twitter and FaceBook and every other internet social network and spread the word. Although there is only one month left until the Crespi High School will hold their big event, there is no reason why the fund raising and support needs to stop on that day. With your help, we can make this the beginning of something wonderful, not the end!
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.