Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse Players Unite to Defeat Pediatric Cancer

Holliston Youth Lacrosse Accepts the Lacrosse Out Cancer Challenge, Joining Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse and Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation in Raising Money for Childhood Cancer Research

During the month of May, over 120 Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse players, including youth from Holliston, have accepted the second annual LaCROSSe Out Cancer Challenge to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF). These youth lacrosse players are uniting to raise money for childhood cancer research to help discover modern cures so more kids can beat this devastating disease. Each day, 47 American children are diagnosed with cancer and more children under 19 years old are lost to cancer than any other disease. ‑e only way to change these statistics and save lives is by funding research. Gavin Bausch from Holliston Youth Lacrosse is a great example. He accepted the Challenge in honor of his friend Caroline McMahon who survived Wilms Tumor, a rare kidney cancer that mainly effects children. “We are proud of the way our players are stepping up to help other kids.

Unfortunately, too many of our players have a friend or peer who has battled cancer. Which is why we all need to contribute to ensure a better future for them,” said Kevin Barney, Executive Director, Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse. ‑e LaCROSSe Out Cancer Challenge aims to raise $47,000 in honor of the 47 kids who are diagnosed with cancer each day. So far, more than $32,000 has been raised, but there is still time to reach or even exceed the goal! Participating is easy – and all lacrosse players, regardless of age or level, are encouraged to participate.

Here is how:

  1. Accept the Challenge!
  2. Register to LaCROSSe Out Cancer on this site.
  3. Invite friends and family to donate $47 in honor of the 47 kids diagnosed each day.
  4. Complete 47 reps (shots, passes, wall balls, etc.) every week on your own to raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.
  5. Challenge your teammates to join you!
  6. You can still participate if you don’t play Lacrosse – make a donation to research here.

Everyone can be a part of transforming pediatric cancer care and saving lives. “Creating a world without pediatric cancer takes all of us,” explained Bonnie Lattimore, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

“Research takes a lot of money and progress is limited by a lack of resources. We’re grateful to the caring kids and families of Massachusetts for helping to fill the funding gap.” Due to research advances, overall survival rates have grown by 70 percent in the past 40 years. Still, about 20 percent of kids with pediatric cancer do not survive today. About two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors will suffer long-lasting chronic health conditions from their treatment and one quarter of pediatric cancer survivors face severe or life-threatening later life effects from their treatment.

To address these challenges, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation invests in research that pushes the boundaries of science and accelerates the development of new treatments and diagnostic tools specifically for children’s and young adults’ developing bodies. (Counted among the Foundation’s credits is funding research that led to the protocol used to treat Wilms tumor – the disease Gavin Bausch’s friend survived — around the world today.)

To learn more about childhood cancer research and how you can help, visit pcrf-kids.org

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