By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/9/10
Twenty-six youth teams and two highly-ranked scholastic teams will compete in the 4th Annual Evanfest
Lacrosse Festival Saturday at Malvern Prep.
Evanfest has helped raise more than $250,000 in funds for families that are dealing with a child that has a life-threatening disease. The event was created by Bill Brady, whose son, Evan, a standout youth lacrosse player, died in 2005 due to osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) after fighting the disease throughout his years at Malvern.
Action begins at 8 a.m. as U-15 and U-13 boys’ teams mostly from Chester and Delaware counties as well as from New Jersey and Delaware compete in a festival-style tourney on five fields until 4 p.m.
The event will be capped by the 3 p.m. contest between Malvern Prep and St. Joseph’s Prep, two boys’ teams ranked in the PA Media Lacrosse Rankings. Malvern (No. 6 in All-Teams poll) is coached by first-year mentor Dan Keating, who coached at St. Joseph’s Prep for several years until coming to Malvern last year as an assistant. St. Joe’s Prep, coached by Eric Gregg, is 4-3 and ranked No. 8 in the PIAA Poll of the Media Rankings. There also will be a JV game at 4 p.m.
Brady said funds raised from the event have helped provide relief for more than 80 families. Money has come from many sources: donations, sales of t-shirts and other sponsorships. He is hoping this year’s event will raise $100,000.
“We stress this event as a festival, not a tournament that has one winner,” said Brady. “We’re overwhelmed, proud and humbled that Evan had such an impact on so many people and that we can continue to carry on in his name.”
