By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/9/11
The Chestnut Hill College men’s lacrosse team is hosting the Balls to the Wall benefit Saturday for teammate Shane Franzone at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
All funds raised from the event, which runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., gos directly to the Franzone family. Franzone, a team member and Norristown High grad, has been fighting a rare blood disease called aplastic anemia for nearly 14 month.
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 the 4th annual Nick Colleluori Classic in October of 2010 while a freshman at Chestnut Hill, Franzone has spent nearly all his time at Children Hospital and has endured a bone marrow transplant, several other serious surgeries and continuing complications.
Balls to the Wall is sponsored by the HEADstrong Foundation, Maverick Lacrosse and Baggataway LC.
Participants of any age or gender can come to P-W and catch and throw against the wall at the back of the high school off Germantown Pike in Plymouth Meeting. Chestnut Hill players and many others from the lacrosse community will give tips and some instruction as players hone skills, hang out and make a donation of their choice.
The event also features a silent auction that includes many valuable pieces of Philadelphia sports memorabilia. Chestnut Hill coach Brian Dougherty, known for winning a championship at just about every level as one of the world’s greatest goalies, is donating many items.
Some of the items up for auction include: (from Dougherty) an autographed 1998 Team USA jersey; autographed 2000 Philly Wings jersey; 2003 World Champion Long Island Lizards jersey and helmet, both autographed; also, Winter Classic hockey pucks signed by Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell, Matt Striebel’s Team USA jersey, Drew Adams and Kyle Sweeney MLL jerseys, Philadelphia Wings items, and Team USA items.
Dougherty asks that all players bring their helmets, sticks, gloves and goggles (girls) and plan to participate rain or shine.
If you are interested in attending the event or donating to the cause, you can download information from the Facebook group or contact Adam Eddinger with Chestnut Hill Lacrosse at eddingera@chc.edu. Click here for the pledge/ sponsor form on Google docs.
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