WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College football head coach Mike Clark and assistant coach Drew DiGiacinto lent a hand on Sunday, June 6 at Lauren’s First And Goal Football Camp at Lafayette College. The two coaches were a part of a camp that had more than 250 volunteer coaches and nearly 1,700 high school football players that were brought together by Lafayette College assistant coach John Loose in support of brain tumor research and cancer services, to offer financial and emotional support to families living with pediatric cancer, and to increase awareness of the disease.
Both Lycoming coaches helped coach the offensive lineman at the camp, which was first started in 2004 by Coach Loose in an effort to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer in honor of his daughter, Lauren, a 13-year-old pediatric brain tumor survivor.
“It’s a good cause,” DiGiacinto said. “If we can participate for a few hours and provide coaching for kids and that helps to raise so much money for a good cause, then it’s an easy decision to be there. John Loose is a good friend of ours and it really showed how close the coaching community is in this area. It’s the least we can do. It was just an amazing, amazing day in all.”
The one-day, non-contact camp was for student-athletes between grades 9 and 12. Participants received instruction in a variety of offensive and defensive skills from volunteer college coaches from around the country.
In total, more than $67,000 was donated to Lauren´s First and Goal Foundation for pediatric brain tumor research, cancer services and family support during the one-day non-contact camp.
“We all obviously have families,” DiGiacinto added, “ and cancer can affect anyone of us at anytime. Nobody wants to see someone they love, especially a child experience that. It was very easy to lend our support to this cause because of that.”
For the year, the foundation has received more than $213,000 in donations, including a $100,000 commitment from the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration. With the proceeds from the camp, the foundation has raised more than $1 million since its creation in 2004.
The organization will hold a second camp at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio on Sunday, June 27. For more information, please visit http://www.laurensfirstandgoal.org/.