Third annual Soccer Round the Clock event helps fight cancer

July 26, 2010: Mlive.com

Logan Brasic never faced a shot as hard as osteosarcoma when he was the goalie of the Jackson Northwest soccer team.

But he’s also never come up with as big a save as he has in fighting the aggressive bone cancer.

From noon Saturday to noon Sund, the 23-year old Brasic and his mom, Lori, proved that families fight cancer together through love, and in their case soccer, with the third annual Soccer Round the Clock celebration.

More than 400 people signed up to play in 18 games, with a goal of raising $5,000 for metastatic pediatric osteosarcoma research to add to the $14,000 the event raised in 2008 and 2009.

While the highlight of the event was the first celebrity game — with the likes of former Michigan State athletes T.J. Duckett and Goran Suton and Food Network star Adrien Sharp on hand — each game was a proud moment for the Brasic family two years after Logan was told there is no evidence of the disease in his body.

Saturday’s kickoff game was no exception, as Logan watched his 74-year old grandfather play goalie against a group of family members and high school friends.

His grandfather Barry Saltman said he had never played goalie in his life, but someone had to give it a shot. He was beaming after making a late save on someone less than a third his age.

“I kept saying I’ve got to make one stop, and the kid who kicked it was nice enough to not quite kick it hard enough to get through,” he joked.

Each goal scored or save made was also a reminder of the money being raised. Each team paid a $250 registration fee, and there were many generous donations as well.

Ferris State University student Lauren Drayton got to know Logan a few years ago when she met one of his friends while at the school, and she had an envelope full of hope for the Brasics.

“This year I sent out letters to raise money, just from my family and friends, and I was able to get almost $1,000,” she said. “The first time I met Logan, I already knew how extraordinary of a person he was just from what he was going through and how he was upbeat all the time. The more I get to know him the more I realize how awesome he is.”

Brasic was in the familiar position of goaltender during the celebrity game Saturday, saying he “made sure T.J. Duckett was on his team so he didn’t have to face a shot from him,” but this event is not the only thing making him smile these days.

A year-and-a-half after having his left leg removed, the 2005 Jackson Northwest graduate is working full-time at LeMatic, while spending a lot of his time running free soccer clinics and finding ways to encourage others.

“The last year has been the kind of coming out of the darkness where I’ve become OK with being an amputee and just kind of become at peace with myself,” he said. “It’s given me a chance to look at my life and kind of move in the direction I want to again and cut my losses, I guess you could say, and move on.”

Lori said she knows she “is damn lucky” to still have her son with her, but she knows the fight is a never-ending one.

“The last three years of my life I’ve walked on eggshells, wondering if he’s going to (have no evidence of disease),” she said. “I wanted to do something for all of the other kids who fought the fight and made it through and knew they could go through it again and again and could end up dying.”

Friends, family remember ex-Chaparral baseball player Michael Lio with fundraiser

July 23, 2010: The Arizona Republic

It was Michael Lio’s kind of turnout Saturday night. Friends filled the spacious kitchen and front room of his parents’ ranch-style home in northeast Phoenix. More friends were upstairs playing pool in the game room. His girlfriend, Samantha Cerny, greeted guests at the door.

Michael Lio wasn’t there, but the former Chaparral High second baseman’s spirit was. Guests bought Michael’s Angels Strike Out Sarcoma T-shirts, black wristbands and other items in a fundraiser to fight the battle against Ewing’s sarcoma that took Lio’s life at age 22. It is a rare cancer that attacks the soft tissues and bones and claimed Lio on Oct. 29

His mother, Melanie Lio, said the goal was to raise $22,000 between that and Monday night’s Diamondbacks-New York Mets game at Chase Field for the initial Strike Out Sarcoma Night. Funds go to Ewing’s sarcoma research as part of the FJC/Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative in memory of Michael Lio.

It was appropriate it came with the Mets in town. Mets rookie first baseman Ike Davis grew up playing sports, particularly baseball, with Lio. After Fall League games, he came to the hospital and spent the night during Lio’s last day. Shortly after Davis was called up by Triple-A Buffalo early this season, Davis got behind an “I Like Ike” T-shirt promotion with proceeds going to Ewing’s sarcoma research. That last October night, the hospice room was overflowing with past Chaparral teammates, including Davis.

“Everybody loved him,” said Toni Dietz, whose son Spencer was one of Michael’s closest friends growing up.

Lio was the scrappy kid who pulled everybody together for get-togethers at his home. He was the one making the calls to arrange a baseball game. He played the sport year-round. He was part of a national championship club team with Davis. As a sophomore, Lio’s hit triggered the 12th-inning run in 2002 that beat Coronado for the first of the school’s four consecutive state baseball championships.

“He was always going to be on top of the world, just like we were all back then,” former Chaparral teammate Mike McDonald said. “He was one of the most fun-loving kids in our group. He was probably the biggest prankster, playing jokes, just having fun all of the time.”

Tim Sherlock, who went on to play at Duke after graduating from Chaparral in 2005, was stunned to hear the news of his friend suffering from cancer last year.

“It’s scary how something like that can happen,” Sherlock said. “He was always a happy, cheerful guy.”

After complaining about persistent pain in his neck behind his skull, Lio had an X-ray performed by a chiropractor. That’s when the cancer was spotted. He traveled out of state to see a specialist. He had surgery, and the family never lost hope.

“Actually, he handled it better than all of us,” Mario Lio, Michael’s father, said. “He was unbelievably sane about the whole thing. He never said, ‘Why me?’ ”

Getting behind the initiative has been therapeutic for the Lio family. Pictures and plaques from Michael’s baseball days fill the game room. There is a framed photo of the 2002, 12-inning state championship score card. There are championship celebration pictures from three seasons. When the cancer spread to his liver, all they could do was bring Lio back to Phoenix and keep him comfortable in the final days of his 14-month battle.

“He never stopped, always going, ‘Just throw me one more, dad, one more,’ ” Mario said. “He was a fierce competitor. He was a lucky kid. He was never sick in his life. And just like that. . . . “

Comedian puts her best foot forward …

July 26, 2010: Canberra Times

Kath Day-Knight of Fountain Lakes would have loved the location, but it was her alter ego, actress Jane Turner of Kath & Kim fame, who proved it’s easy to be foxy and a sarcoma warrior.

Grace Moshi and Turner met in Canberra and have been friends for 22 years. When Dr Moshi was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2008 Turner was one of many people who supported her through the fight to save her leg and her life.

Raising awareness about the devastating cancer after Dr Moshi’s recovery was a no-brainer.

”When she was going through her cancer I was hearing how hideous it all was. I couldn’t believe what a horrible situation it ended up for her,” Turner said.

”And when she asked me to help with the Sarah Grace Sarcoma Foundation, I was more than happy to lend a helping hand and maybe raise the profile or do whatever I could to get the foundation some publicity or support the foundation,” Turner said.

The foundation’s first event was a success. More than 100 people came to raise awareness about sarcoma at the inaugural Sarah Grace Sarcoma Foundation walk at Lake Burley Griffin.

Dr Moshi said the prognosis for people diagnosed with the cancer was not good, with 50 per cent dying within five years.

”With leukaemia we have made a lot of progress … whereas with sarcoma they have not made that much progress,” Dr Moshi said.

The Sarah Grace Sarcoma Foundation walk will become an annual event raising funds and awareness about the deadly group of cancers.

The Winners of the Team Sarcoma Everyday Heroes Competition

July 15, 2010: from The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Team Sarcoma Everyday Heroes Competition. Three winners were chosen out of more than 100 touching tributes submitted from 9 different countries. Because of the number of inspiring essays we received, five additional prizes were awarded for honorable mentions.

1st Place Award: Doreen Kossove
$3,000 has been donated to leiomyosarcoma research in Doreen’s honor.
Alison writes: “Doreen Kossove was multi-faceted, a scholar, scientist, mother, educator, and my dear friend. She encouraged people to advocate for themselves and provided thoughtful and accurate help online through the ACOR list and privately, extending the lives of hundreds of people.”

2nd Place Award: Odile Espesset
$2,000 has been donated to synovial sarcoma research in Odile’s honor.
Elodie writes: “After my diagnosis, my mom crossed the ocean and border control on her own and became our shopper, cook, cleaning lady, my 4-months-old son’s baby-sitter, my driver and my nurse. She had to learn how to drive on American roads, how to read American directions, how to communicate without words….”

3rd Place Award: Logan Alexander Brasic
$1,000 has been donated to osteosarcoma research in Logan’s honor.
Lori writes: “Throughout treatment and beyond, Logan has traded in his inability to play soccer with ways to enhance soccer skills of the children from our small rural area. Last year, he really turned a corner when, at our Team Sarcoma event, Logan proudly reclaimed his place in the net and played goalie once again!”

Honorable Mention: Kenji Matsumoto
$500 has been donated to Ewing’s sarcoma research in Kenji’s honor.

Honorable Mention: Precious Synamun Foster
$500 has been donated to angiosarcoma research in Precious’ honor.

Honorable Mention: Leigh Webb
$500 has been donated to Ewing’s sarcoma research in Leigh’s honor.

Honorable Mention: Keaton Lee
$500 has been donated to osteosarcoma research in Keaton’s honor.

Honorable Mention: Marina Symcox
$500 has been donated to GIST research in Marina’s honor.

The Everyday Heroes Competition was created and coordinated by volunteers of the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative. We would like to thank everyone who participated, including all of the volunteers who helped to make this project such a success.

Teams Surfing Challenge in the Name of Sarcoma

July 13, 2010: Pacific Longboarder

With the success of last year’s event, the Gold Coast’s surfing community is coming together for round two (2) of the monster teams’ challenge in support of the International Team Sarcoma Initiative (TSI) – an awareness week where for one week (July17-25) all around the world, people get together and raise valuable funds through sports and team challenges for the rarely known cancer.

Team Sarcoma: Surf Teams Challenge will be contested in support of Hannah’s Chance Foundation. The crème de le crème of the Gold Coast’s rich surfing heritage will battle it out at Palm Beach for honours on July 25, with the Alley, Burleigh, Kirra, MNM and Palm Beach board riding clubs not only competing in the event but also providing all members of the public the opportunity to mingle with the local surfing community.

Hannah’s Chance Foundation was set up to raise valuable funds for medical research into the rare types of cancer. There are various types of sarcomas, all of which are very aggressive and almost 50 per cent of sufferers do not survive. Former WCT surfer Richie Lovett is also a sarcoma survivor.

Hannah’s Chance Foundation was set up by Hannah Ciobo, daughter of Australian swimming great Tracey Wickham and Robert Ciobo and Hannah’s husband Tom O’Driscoll. Hannah fought bravely against the rare synovial sarcoma for three years until she lost her battle on October 2, 2007, aged 19. Husband, Tom suffered from Ewings sarcoma, but is now in remission.

In Hannah’s own words: “Being in hospital during my treatment I found it amazing how many children and some adults that have very similar things to me…the worst thing is seeing a child in hospital receiving chemo and not knowing if the medicine they are getting is going to work.”

Team Sarcoma: Surf Teams Challenge organiser Leigh Webb initiated the surf challenge concept after her husband and local surfer Tony was diagnosed and subsequently had two large sarcomas removed. Leigh proclaims “I wanted to do something here in Queensland to coincide with the international team sarcoma initiative,” says Leigh.

Since the conception of the event the Webb’s have been dealt a further double tragic blow with Tony developing another Sarcoma (this time inoperable and terminal) and unthinkably Corey, one of their 14 year old twin boys, being diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma. Corey Webb too has now commenced chemotherapy at the Wesley Hospital and faces his own battle with this terrible disease. Whilst from the same cancer family these cancers are unrelated, father and son are now receiving treatment in the Wesley Hospital.

“It is with the help of our sponsors Stagg Chilli, Surfing Queensland, Palm Beach SLSC and people like Andrew Harris from the Alley Boardriders, Rob Wolfe and Clayton Bell from “MNM” (as the program directors and Sarcoma Awareness Boardriders Teams coordinators) helping put the event together that will make it a great family day out with excellent surfing, live entertainment and activities for the kids with the local surfing community out in full force.”

Sarcoma Awareness Week kicks off with The Butterfly Dinner Dance on Saturday the 17th July at the Currumbin RSL, followed by a Ladies Luncheon on July 24 and the Surfing Teams Challenge taking place at 7am on July 25 at Palm Beach Surf Club. The Day will include sausage sizzle, fashion parade, flag races, raffles and a jumping castle for the kids.

2010 Team Sarcoma Event in the News – Waco, TX

This event was featured in a live news cast at KWTX.com

June 24, 2010: Waco Today
By Julie Campbell Carlson

Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Moore says his little brother, Andrew, is a hero. Personally, I think both Moore boys would qualify for that title — Andrew for his battle against a sarcoma cancer, and Benjamin for planning a novel event to raise money for sarcoma research.

On July 17, the second annual Be A Superhero: Team Sarcoma 5K, which Benjamin began last year, will kick off at the Waco Suspension Bridge. The event will include a 5K run, a 5K walk, which both begin at 8:30 a.m., and a 1K fun run at 9:15 a.m. The fun run will be led by a cast of superheroes, and participants are encouraged to dress up as a hero, either of the super variety or a real-life hero, such as a firefighter, police officer, etc.

“When I watched my little brother bravely struggle through multiple surgeries and almost a full year of aggressive chemotherapy treatment, I realized that he was my hero,” said Benjamin, who graduated from Midway High School in June. “By participating in the Team Sarcoma event, everyone can be a hero to those people who are struggling with this disease.”

At the race, awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each age bracket of the 5K, as well as to the overall top three winners of the 5K. There also will be a costume contest for all the assembled superheroes. Participants will receive complimentary T-shirts and goodiebags.

The entrance fee for the 5K walk/run is $15 before July 1 and $20 afterward; the fun run fee is $12 before July 1 and $15 thereafter. Walk-up registration will begin at 7 a.m. the day of the race. To register or to get more information, visit www.team-sarcoma.net/2010-events/4714. In its inaugural year, the Team Sarcoma event had 350 participants and raised more than $10,000 for sarcoma research.

By the way, Benjamin also was overjoyed to report that 10-year-old Andrew is doing extremely well, was able to return to school and at his last checkup, had a clean bill of health. As for Benjamin, about a month after the race, he will be off to study at the University of Notre Dame.