June 18, 2008

Lauren's First and Goal at USF Photo Gallery

TAMPA, Fla. - After hosting football clinics for five years at Lafayette College, including 2008, camp director and Lafayette defensive coordinator John Loose expanded the camp by hosting a second one-day clinic at the University of South Florida on June 8.

The clinic had 324 campers in its first year in the South and raised approximately $12,000 for pediatric brain tumor research. Campers received instruction from 58 volunteer college coaches, including the entire Lafayette football staff. In addition, 24 players from South Florida and 12 current and former Lafayette players helped out at the camp.

"We had a great first year at South Florida," Loose said. "We had a very similar start five years ago at Lafayette and we made new contacts and set up a system that will take the clinic to another level in the near future. We are convinced this will grow like wildfire in Florida."

The $12,000 combines with $125,000 raised at the Easton camp held on June 2 for the charity, which Loose founded in 2003. His daughter, Lauren who has suffered with brain tumors her entire life, is his inspiration.

The non-contact clinic was open to students entering grades 9-12 in the fall of 2007. The minimum donation was $25, with all of the proceeds from the camp directly benefiting Lauren's First and Goal Foundation, a 501c3 tax-exempt charitable organization.

Through the generosity of its volunteers and sponsors, all of the proceeds went directly to the pediatric brain tumor research and cancer services.