Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/14/11
The Chestnut Hill College men’s lacrosse team has raised more than $19,000 for team member Shane Franzone in his fight against a rare blood disease through Saturday’s “Balls to the Wall” benefit at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Franzone, a Norristown high grad, got to watch the entire 5-hour event from his bed at Children Hospital of Pennsylvania where he is recovering from yet another procedure since being diagnosed with aplastic anemia 14 months ago.
The disease causes the bone marrow to fail to produce adequate counts of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Since being diagnosed just after last year’s Nick Colleluori Classic while a freshman at Chestnut Hill, Franzone has spent nearly all his time at Children’s Hospital and has endured a bone marrow transplant, the need for a tracheotomy, several serious infections and, most recently, an operation to remove one of his lungs.
See full story from Saturday on Phillylacrosse.com
See picture slideshow on event from phillylacrosse.com
See YouTube video from Chestnut Hill College
Helping at Saturday’s event was the Chestnut Hill women’s team. Many members of the West Chester women’s lacrosse team also participated.
The event, streamed to Franzone’s laptop at CHOP by Access Lacrosse, also featured a silent auction that raised thousands of dollars. Many of the top items were donated by Chestnut Hill College coach Brian Dougherty, a former College Goalie of the Year and Major League Lacrosse, World Cup and American Lacrosse League champion. The event also was sponsored by the HEADstrong Foundation, Maverick Lacrosse and Baggataway Lacrosse Club.
