Men's and Women's Soccer Programs to Take Part in "Penguin Plunge" Fundraising Event on Feb. 28
2/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NEW YORK -- On Sunday, Feb. 28, the Columbia University soccer family will take part in a special fundraising effort for two young boys in Nyack, N.Y., who are each battling cancer. Both the men's and women's soccer teams will host a "Penguin Plunge" event for Mickey Reeves and Sean DePatto, in conjunction with one being held for the youngsters at the same time in Nyack, N.Y., at The Remmer and 1929 Boathouses at Baker Athletics Complex (533 W. 218th Street, cross street Park Terrace West) at 1:30 p.m.
Last year, the women's soccer team held an event for Ashley Gankiewicz, its "Friends of Jaclyn Foundation" adoptee who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at the age of two. The Lions were able to raise over $1,000, and the team's plunge combined with the efforts of those at the Nyack event raised over $15,000. The money was donated to help Ashley fight Neurofibromatosis, a rare form of pediatric brain cancer
On Feb. 28, 2010, the Lions and the group from Nyack will work together to help Mickey Reeves and Sean DePatto, both of whom have had intense battles with various forms of cancer over the past few years.
In the fall of 2008, Mickey was like any other ten-year-old boy. He was strong, healthy, a great baseball player and an avid fan of all sports. Then he started to get headaches, nausea, and having anxiety. His family explored the cause of these symptoms without success. Further testing confirmed every parents' worst fear - Mickey had a brain tumor. It was diagnosed as cancer-medulloblastoma.
On Jan. 12th, Mickey underwent a seven-hour brain operation to remove his tumor and the surgeon was able to remove 99 percent of it. Mickey's course of treatment has included six weeks of radiation and a 44-week session of chemotherapy, due to end on March 29, 2010.
Sean is a seven-year old little boy who is fighting cancer for the second time in his short life. In September of 2004, Sean was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia at the age of 2 1/2 years old. He went through 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy, many medications and countless operating room procedures for bone marrow biopsies and spinal chemotherapy.
Sean was cancer free for a little over two years. Upon one of his six-month routine check-ups this past May with his oncologist, it was discoverd that Sean's cancer had returned. Sean spent five weeks in the hospital to begin chemotherapy, and has had numerous hospital admissions since.
Members of both teams and staff will be jumping into the Hudson River to help raise money for the medical care of Mickey and Sean. The teams will be accepting donations at the event, and anyone interested in attending and participating in the Penguin Plunge at Baker Field can contact women's assistant coach Kate Galante at kjg2003@columbia.edu.
For more information on the event in Nyack, please visit the website by clicking the link above. For those that cannot attend either event but would still like to make a donation, checks can be made payable to "South Nyack Grand View PBA" with "Attn: Mickey Reeves/Sean DePatto" and can be sent to:
Last year, the women's soccer team held an event for Ashley Gankiewicz, its "Friends of Jaclyn Foundation" adoptee who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at the age of two. The Lions were able to raise over $1,000, and the team's plunge combined with the efforts of those at the Nyack event raised over $15,000. The money was donated to help Ashley fight Neurofibromatosis, a rare form of pediatric brain cancer
On Feb. 28, 2010, the Lions and the group from Nyack will work together to help Mickey Reeves and Sean DePatto, both of whom have had intense battles with various forms of cancer over the past few years.
In the fall of 2008, Mickey was like any other ten-year-old boy. He was strong, healthy, a great baseball player and an avid fan of all sports. Then he started to get headaches, nausea, and having anxiety. His family explored the cause of these symptoms without success. Further testing confirmed every parents' worst fear - Mickey had a brain tumor. It was diagnosed as cancer-medulloblastoma.
On Jan. 12th, Mickey underwent a seven-hour brain operation to remove his tumor and the surgeon was able to remove 99 percent of it. Mickey's course of treatment has included six weeks of radiation and a 44-week session of chemotherapy, due to end on March 29, 2010.
Sean is a seven-year old little boy who is fighting cancer for the second time in his short life. In September of 2004, Sean was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia at the age of 2 1/2 years old. He went through 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy, many medications and countless operating room procedures for bone marrow biopsies and spinal chemotherapy.
Sean was cancer free for a little over two years. Upon one of his six-month routine check-ups this past May with his oncologist, it was discoverd that Sean's cancer had returned. Sean spent five weeks in the hospital to begin chemotherapy, and has had numerous hospital admissions since.
Members of both teams and staff will be jumping into the Hudson River to help raise money for the medical care of Mickey and Sean. The teams will be accepting donations at the event, and anyone interested in attending and participating in the Penguin Plunge at Baker Field can contact women's assistant coach Kate Galante at kjg2003@columbia.edu.
For more information on the event in Nyack, please visit the website by clicking the link above. For those that cannot attend either event but would still like to make a donation, checks can be made payable to "South Nyack Grand View PBA" with "Attn: Mickey Reeves/Sean DePatto" and can be sent to:
South Nyack Grand View Police Department
282 South Broadway
Nyack, NY 10960
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