ANGOLA, Ind.-- A Trine assistant football coach recently served as an instructor at a football camp held to raise funds for pediatric brain cancer research.
Derek Prather volunteered on the staff of the sixth-annual Ohio Lauren's First and Goal Football Camp at Otterbein University. Prather, who serves as special teams coordinator and defensive line coach for the Thunder football team, was part of an event that welcomed football players from 176 high schools across 10 states and raised over $12,000 for pediatric brain cancer research.
The camp serves as the primary fundraiser for Lauren's First and Goal Foundation, with all proceeds going directly to the foundation's mission of brain tumor research and cancer services, providing financial and emotional support to families living with pediatric cancer and increasing awareness of the disease.
"It was great to participate in a camp that supported pediatric brain cancer research funding," said Prather. "It was important to me and all the participating coaches to help raise awareness for such an important cause."
"The camp itself focused entirely on football and developing playing skills through drill work, rather than a camp that involved physical testing," continued Prather. "It was a great experience."
Lauren's First and Goal has brought in more than $164,000 so far this year and nearly $1.8 million to date. LFG was created in 2004 by John and Marianne Loose in honor of their now 18-year-old daughter Lauren, a pediatric brain tumor survivor.
Along with keynote speaker Urban Meyer, head coach at Ohio State, Prather and other camp coaches were able to visit with oncology patients from Nationwide Children's Hospital throughout the afternoon.
Follow the latest foundation news on the web at www.laurensfirstandgoal.org, via Twitter at www.twitter.com/LFGfootballcamp or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/LaurensFirstandGoal.
The Trine football team is coming off a season in which the Thunder finished 6-4 overall and tied for second in the MIAA. The team kicks off the season Thursday, Sep. 3 with a home game against in-state rival Manchester.
Photo: Prather and other camp coaches flash the "L" in support of Lauren's First and Goal. Photo credit to Adam Prescott, Assistant Sports Information Director, Otterbein University.
