ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine men's lacrosse team raised a significant amount of money with the team's BrooklynStrong benefit for Rett Syndrome awareness this past weekend.
The team raised over $3,000 to benefit Girl Power 2 Cure, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for treatments and a cure for Rett Syndrome. The name BrooklynStrong honors Brooklyn Butler, a young friend of the team who is diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. Brooklyn is the daughter of Kelly Butler, a former Trine employee and now the regional director for the Girl Power 2 Cure organization. The men's lacrosse team raised funds for Girl Power 2 Cure by selling t-shirts.
The weeks of fundraising culminated in the team presenting Brooklyn with her own no. 7 jersey prior to Saturday's game against Muskingum. The team wore special orange and purple jerseys for the game in honor of Brooklyn and all those fighting Rett Syndrome. Trine fans supported the cause with an "orange out" theme at the game.
"I think the most important thing for me was seeing that not only did my teammates and their parents welcome Brooklyn for just one game, they embraced her and welcomed her into our Trine lacrosse family forever," said Zach Mathews, a senior on the men's lacrosse team and one of the driving forces behind the benefit.
The men's lacrosse team first learned about Brooklyn through another member of the Trine family. The team did some volunteer work for the family in the fall and decided to commit to holding a game in honor of Brooklyn this spring.
"I think everyone- coaches, players, parents and staff, all had a huge part to play in making the BrooklynStrong game as successful as it was," said Matthews. "Hopefully, this is a stepping stone our program can use to build a tradition of giving back."
Rett Syndrome is a non-inherited, post-natal neurological disorder that causes impairments affecting the ability to speak, walk and eat. Its hallmarks are near-constant, repetitive hand movements while awake. The condition affects mostly girls and is very rarely seen in boys.
For more information on Rett Syndrome, please visit the Girl Power 2 Cure website HERE.
Trine earned a 9-2 victory over the Fighting Muskies in Saturday's contest to improve to 2-3 on the season. The Thunder will host Baldwin-Wallace in non-conference action this Wednesday, Mar. 25 at 7 p.m.