The Lake Forest College football team will host Lawrence
University on Homecoming this Saturday (October 10). When the
captains from both teams proceed to midfield for the coin toss,
they will do so with a pair of special individuals by their
sides.
The Lake Forest College football team recently made the decision to
"adopt" a local child through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, a
non-profit, charitable organization that improves the quality of
life for children with pediatric brain tumors and their families.
FOJ matches a child with a college or high school sports team based
on geographic location.
The newest member of the Foresters is Benny Watters, 4-year-old son
of Lake Forest residents Brendan and Lisa and younger brother of
Bella, 8, and Lily, 6. Benny was diagnosed with a brain stem tumor
(Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma - DIPG) on January 18, 2008. For
more information about Benny, including a journal that describes
his interaction with the Forester football team, visit
www.caringbridge.org/visit/bennywatters or www.BennysWorld.org.
The team contacted Friends of Jaclyn after head coach Jim Catanzaro
showed his squad an HBO Real Sports segment about Jaclyn Murphy and
the women's lacrosse team at Northwestern University. The players
gave Catanzaro "an overwhelming and emotional yes" when asked if
they'd like to get involved.
Catanzaro contacted the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation and was put in
touch with Benny, who has since made visits to campus, had lunch
and played football with several of the players, and hung out with
Boomer, the Foresters' mascot. "Getting to know Benny and his
family has been very enjoyable," commented sophomore Casey Flynn.
"We want to be part of one large, tight-knit family that Benny's
parents can come to when he is down and needs a smile. Watching
Benny and his sisters tackle the pop-up bag on their first visit
here gave us a laugh and showed us that it's going to be a very fun
and rewarding experience for us all now and in the years to
come."
While the Foresters are doing everything they can to help Benny,
his influence on them has also been positive. "Meeting Benny and
his family has taught me that, although something may not be
perfect in life, you still have to make the best out of it,"
commented freshman Paul
Daizovi. "His parents try to do everything they can just to
keep him smiling. Although tough times often arise, Benny is a
trooper and an inspiration to all of us."
The team plans to carve pumpkins with Benny later in the month and
have him join them for some Forester basketball games this winter.
First, however, he will serve as an honorary captain at the
Homecoming game this Saturday.
Joining Benny and the rest of the Forester captains for the
traditional pre-game coin toss will be the captains from Lawrence
University, including 7-year-old Luke Peters, who the Vikings
adopted through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
Regardless of the outcome of the coin toss or the game, everyone is
a winner this Saturday.
November 16, 2009
A Dozen Lake Forest Players Earn All-Midwest Conference Honors
November 7, 2009
Lake Forest Drops Season Finale at Carroll University
October 31, 2009
Foresters Fall to Visiting Knox College
October 24, 2009
Lake Forest Defeated by Nation's Ninth-Ranked Team
October 17, 2009
Foresters Start Fast and Hang on for Victory at Grinnell
October 10, 2009
Lake Forest Wins Homecoming Game against Lawrence
September 19, 2009
Foresters Defeated at Illinois College
September 12, 2009
Lake Forest Falls to Ripon in Home Opener
September 5, 2009
Foresters Open Season with 14-7 Loss at Aurora University
