Brothers Gavin, Keenan, and Caedyn, who are the newest members of the North Broward Prep Boys Lacrosse program. {NBP Lacrosse}
By: Matt Rothman
North Broward Preparatory School will officially draft Caedyn Jynella (5) and brothers Gavin (9) and Keenan (6) as its newest honorary varsity boys’ lacrosse team members on Sunday, October 8, inside the Global Wellness Center.
NBPS lacrosse players Max Brownbill (junior), Chandler Ripps (junior), Ryder Schwartz (sophomore), and Chase Rosentrauch (freshman) will serve as on-campus ambassadors to the family.
Head Coach Josh Blumenthal welcomes the brothers and their mother. “We hope to enhance the lives of the entire family, as well as those of our current team members, through this unique and supportive relationship.”
Caedyn and family will be officially welcomed to the team during a draft party, at which time the brothers will sign official draft letters and receive lacrosse sticks and game jerseys.
“We are excited to include our four newest teammates in as many activities as their schedule allows and consider ourselves fortunate to be able to welcome four new Eagles,” Blumenthal added.
Caedyn was diagnosed with Optic Nerve Glioma at 12 months old, resulting in a partial loss of vision and hearing. He has completed several rounds of chemotherapy and continues regular visits to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital of Miami for ongoing treatment.
“The name Caedyn in Gaelic means little battle, fighter or spirit of battle,” mom Jessie Fairbanks said. “It seems only fitting to be adopted by Eagles North Broward Prep lacrosse team, a sport which the Native Americans played to prepare them for war, a social event for trade and sport.”
The match between Caedyn, Gavin, Keenan, and North Broward Prep was made during September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It came about from the work with the Friends of Jaclyn (FOJ), a nonprofit organization based in New York. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers and to raise awareness through their Adopt-A-Child, Safe on the Sidelines, and Guardian Angel Programs.
“To be invited to partake in this draft and be a part of this team means the world to us; it’s a time for our family to come together and be part of something bigger than cancer,” Fairbanks added. ” Organizations and individuals such as yourself give us so much hope and strength to keep fighting.”
The family was introduced to Blumenthal through his work with The Kids Cancer Foundation, a South Florida-based nonprofit established in 2001 to provide hope and support to the community’s children and families battling cancer and blood disorders.
North Broward Prep joins the rapidly growing list of FOJ school partners, which includes Cornell University (gymnastics), Villanova University (men’s lacrosse), University of Michigan (softball), Johns Hopkins University (football), and IMG Academy (girls’ soccer).
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