Long Island high schoolers’ big hearts are helping athletes with disabilities play the game by taking over funds to support inclusive initiatives.
“Lacrosse My Heart,” a nonprofit spearheaded by six student lacrosse players from Roslyn High School in Latest York, most recently raised enough funds to support a wheelchair lacrosse team, the Long Island Hammerheads.
“My friends, my co-founders and I even have been playing together since we were five years old and lacrosse has done a lot for us, so we wanted to provide back to the community by connecting through organizations just like the Hammerheads or individuals who haven’t been exposed to lacrosse at a young age and show them the love of the game,” Zach Mashaal, co-founder of the organization, told “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Saturday.
The nonprofit helps athletes like Joe Slaninka, a member of the Hammerheads team, who said community support makes all of the difference.
“We’re community-based programs. There are usually not plenty of great fundraising opportunities for us, so when organizations like Zach’s come to us and say, ‘Hey, we wish to assist you to out and do something,’ it’s huge,” Slaninka told “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy.
“It also sort of shows that we play lacrosse, [and] they play lacrosse, so it’s the common thread.”
“Lacrosse My Heart,” in accordance with a site detailing the group’s goals, says they’re “dedicated to creating lacrosse accessible to individuals of all abilities,” and so they raise “funds and awareness to support inclusive initiatives throughout the sport.”
Amongst these, just like the way in which they helped the Hammerheads, involves providing wheelchairs for players with physical disabilities.
“[These high schoolers] really have restored our faith within the youth of America [by taking] on this initiative and think[ing] about people apart from themselves, people in need… from the lacrosse community to the lacrosse community,” said Mike Nelson, president of USA Lacrosse’s Long Island chapter.
Those wishing to donate to the cause can head over to “Lacrosse My Heart” at lacrossemyheartworldwide.org.