Sometime on Friday, I caught the HBO series “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” already in progress and was watching a story about former Oakland Raider Barret Robbins and his battle with a bipolar disorder. The next segment on the show was about a young lacrosse player and the malignant brain tumor that was detected by her doctor at the tender age of nine. It was a story I knew all to well, after meeting this feisty teenager last year at Poly Prep. The story goes like this… Jaclyn Murphy was diagnosed and had that brain tumor removed on March 30, 2004. Chemotherapy and radiation followed the operation because the tumor they removed was malignant and life threatening. Each day on their way to the treatments at Memorial Sloan Kettering in Manhattan, they passed a poster on the wall depicting a women’s lacrosse team, and her dad, Denis Murphy, pointed to that image and said to his daughter, “that’s going to be you one day.” Little did either of them know, that Jaclyn’s lacrosse coach had a friend who coached the Northwestern University’s women’s college squad and had told her all about Jaclyn and her condition. Within days, Jaclyn had all sorts of Northwestern Lacrosse gear and autographed pictures and sticks from the entire team. Jaclyn had her dad drive her to a game when the team came to the east coast to play at Johns Hopkins in Maryland. Dad did, and an incredible relationship had begun. Jaclyn attended as many games as she could and was in the stands when the team won their first NCAA Championship in 2004. They have won every year since. She is quite the ‘good luck charm’. The foundation she and her dad have started is called Friends of Jaclyn, and is all about love, support and friendship. So far, they have over 100 college sports teams covering 17 different sports and one high school lacrosse team (Poly Preps Girls). They pair off recently diagnosed pediatric brain tumor patients and a school sports program. That team “adopts” the child and the results are extraordinary. That is how I met this amazing young lady; her and her dad were introducing the Poly team to their ‘adopted younger sister’, Lily Langbein. It was one of the most incredible moments I have ever witnessed. I got to chat with Jaclyn, whose courage, relentless spirit and joy for life are an inspiration to those who know her. She is captivating, and her enthusiasm is contagious. The Poly team, the only high school program thus far, is coached by Anni Zukauskas, who says of her team, “I have a very special team here at Poly Prep, and they have gone above and beyond to become a part of this foundation.” This charitable organization was created to raise public awareness about pediatric brain tumors. Funds are used to offset medical expenses for children who are diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer and donations are made to other charities specifically related to pediatric brain cancer. For more information on this wonderful foundation go to www.friendsofjaclyn.org