NCN SPORTS BLOG

Tonight, Umass will challenge Northwestern in the first annual Friends of Jaclyn Murphy Lacrosse Game. The game will start at 7 p.m. and is being played at Yorktown high school

Below is an excerpt from http://www.friendsofjaclyn.org/index.html

It details her struggle and the foundation set up in her name.

The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation is inspired by Jaclyn Murphy, an 11 year old, who was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor, in March 2004. Jaclyn’s strength and courage, relentless spirit, and joy for life are an inspiration to those who know her. When granted her “Make-A-Wish”, Jaclyn asked, “for all the children in the hospitals to be healed.”

Friends of Jaclyn is a charitable organization, created to raise public awareness regarding pediatric brain tumors. Funds will be used to offset medical expenses for children who are diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer, as well as donate contributions to charities that are specifically related to pediatric brain tumors. It is our goal for Jaclyn to be able to continue to touch people with her smile, her kind heart, her hope and faith that some day there will be a cure! In the meantime, it is our hope that through Jaclyn’s example, we can help to improve the lives of other children and families dealing with pediatric cancer.

Here is some more reading material on the event:

• This one is from ESPN
  
• This is from the Northwestern wesbsite

We have been putting a video together these past few days, which will concentrate on three different aspects from this amazing event. There will be interviews from Northwestern lacrosse players, Mr. Murphy (Jaclyn’s dad), highlights from the benefit dinner at Colonial Terrace, and footage/ interviews from tonight’s game. Keep checking back for updates.

There will also be local representation on display this evening, as athletes from around the region return to compete on the collegiate level. They are as follows:

Northwestern — Katrina Dowd (Yorktown graduate), Morgan Lathrop (Briarcliff graduate)

Umass — Alexis Venechanos (Umass head coach and Yorktown graduate)

I urge everyone to come out for the game, it is for a great cause, and the level of competition on the field will be top notch.

See you at the game!