Fairfax, Va. – Excitement was in the air and the smiles were plentiful as the George Mason softball team welcomed Tara Sankner to the Mason softball family in an adoption ceremony through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation on Wednesday afternoon.
The team has adopted eight-year old Tara Sankner who has been diagnosed with Astrocytoma, a form of pediatric brain cancer, as their new lifetime teammate. George Mason was introduced to Tara through a partnership with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, started in 2005 by Dennis and Lynda Murphy, to improve the quality of life for children with pediatric brain tumors and their families by pairing them with college and high school athletic teams.
“Our mission at Friends of Jaclyn is to improve the quality of life for children that are battling pediatric brain tumors,” said Dennis Murphy, founder and president of Friends of Jaclyn. “We do that through three programs: the adopt a child program, a sibling program and we also have an angel program.”
“(Tara) is the 407th child with a brain tumor adopted by Friends of Jaclyn. We're in Division I, Division II, Division III, junior college, we have a professional surfer that adopted out in Malibu, and high schools.”
George Mason will welcome Tara and her family at practices, games and other special events throughout the 2013-2014 season and beyond, while also coming up with ways to fundraise for Tara and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
“There's nothing more powerful than love, support and friendship, and that's what (George Mason) is giving to Tara and her family,k” said Murphy. “She's not a good luck charm, she's not a mascot, she's an official member of the team and that's one of the greatest, greatest opportunities that you guys have at this level.”
Tara's mother, Tammy, is grateful for what the team is doing for her daughter.
“It is a journey, it has been a journey, and we have at least 38 more weeks of chemo,” says Tammy. “She's going to try her best, she loves George Mason and she loves softball so again I appreciate (George Mason) adopting her.”
Tara's adoption will not only have an impact on her current family, but will influence her new teammates and coaches on and off the field as well.
Tiffany Webb, a senior on the softball team, is excited to make Tara a part of the team. “I think it's going to be a good experience for the team to have that family feel, and it will bring us together as a team, bring Tara together as a team. She'll have support and we can find support through her.”
“Tara just had an amazing effect on me and this team today," said head coach Joe Verbanic. "It's exciting and we're looking forward to having a new friend as a part of the softball family. I don't know where this is going to lead us, but I'm excited see where we're going to go.”
Tara's journey with the George Mason softball team this season will be documented and can be followed by visiting www.GoMason.com and the links below:
To learn more about Tara, her story and her family:
https://www.facebook.com/prayfortara?ref=br_tf
Tara's Blog:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tarasankner
To learn more about the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation:
http://friendsofjaclyn.org/
