JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Jacksonville Lacrosse Club’s 2nd Annual Community PedsCare Benefit Tournament held this past weekend, January 7-8, at Landrum Middle School in Ponte Vedra Beach, raised $7000 to benefit Community PedsCare. Additional Funds raised included $1000 donated to the Lighthouse Lacrosse Foundation (www.lighthouselacrosse.org) and $2000 in game goals donated to the North Florida Youth Lacrosse League. The two-day tournament involved youth and high school athletes from the First Coast area.  

Each of the 17 teams selected a patient/family from the Community PedsCare program to sponsor, with an introduction to their honorary guests via photos and brief stories. Wearing team colors, Community PedsCare kids met before the game then cheered for their sponsors on the sidelines. Many of the teams prepared gifts for their sponsored child-personalized lacrosse jerseys, autographed helmets, t-shirts and team-colored accessories.  

“This was a wonderful way to get our children out for fun, where they are able to enjoy the event like other kids,” said Terry Eason, RN, BS, CHPN, director of Community PedsCare. Special this year, the new North American Lacrosse League franchise, the Jacksonville Bullies, conducted a training camp during the event directed by Bullies Head Coach and JLC director Brian Duncan.  

“The athletes were moved by the challenges these children face daily. They wanted to share their love of lacrosse, have some fun and help support the Community PedsCare program. There was overwhelming support from the teams, their staff and the local lacrosse community, and we were excited to put together a top flight event for 2013,” said coordinator for this year’s event Patrick Harnett, executive director for Jacksonville Lacrosse Club, and assistant coach, Jacksonville Bullies Professional Indoor Lacrosse.