Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/3/11
Staff Report
Team ManUp is hosting its annual “Cuddle My Kids” boys’ lacrosse benefit Sunday at West Chester East when it plays HEADstrong at 9:30 a.m.
ManUp is a non-profit boys’ club program whose mission is to help lacrosse coaches and families in need of assistance. Proceeds from the game – which involves mostly players in the Class of 2014 – will go to “Cuddle My Kids,” a home-based non-profit that assists children directly affected by cancer. Click here for “Cuddle My Kids” website.
“Cuddle my Kids” was founded five years ago by Cathy and Scott Gabrielsen. Cathy is a survivor of breast cancer. Scott is a youth coach and lacrosse supporter, and was a college (Vermont) and post-collegiate club and pro standout (five-time champion with Philadelphia Wings).
ManUp has already sold more than 250 Christmas wreaths to raise money for “Cuddle My Kids” as part of the event. Wreaths will be available at the event. In the past few years ManUp has raised nearly $5,000 for “Cuddle my Kids.”
“Cuddle My Kids” has been serving families (or caregivers) that are in treatment for cancer and have children between the ages of 1-8. The organization is unique because it is the only home-based non-profit that focuses primarily on the children affected by this disease.
The charity is important to our team because our mission is to give back to the lacrosse community and especially coaches that are in need or have dealt with an unfortunate situation,” said ManUp coach Jim Schorn. “We try to remind our players that the day will come when there world is turned upside down. You will have to react to that with character and vision that will carry you and those around you to continue to your best and failure can not be an option especially with others counting on you.
“What better way to teach this lesson then to put my boys right in the middle of it with other people’s situations and what better an opportunity to teach them to help those that are living in an unfortunate circumstance?”
