First-and-goal is a situation that calls for every member of the defense to pull together with their team’s back against the wall.
Army assistant football coach John Loose and his family have turned Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation into an inspiring, impactful team effort that transcends football.
Since its creation in 2004, the nonprofit foundation has raised more than $3.13 for pediatric brain tumor research and cancer services for patients and their families. Loose said it has been very gratifying to see the foundation help so many.
John and his wife, Marianne, came up with the foundation after their oldest daughter, Lauren, was diagnosed at 8 months with neurofibromatosis (NF1), a genetic disorder that can cause tumors anywhere there’s a nerve.
“She has battled all kinds of diseases and ailments over the years,” said John, a 1983 graduate of Watkins Glen High School. “She has brain tumors, she had two days of surgery for spinal tumors and seven weeks of radiation. It’s a miracle she survived that.
“She has fought everything for her whole life and she’s 28. We’re really, really fortunate to have her.”
John and Marianne’s other daughter, Grace, is 25.
They felt they could do more after participating in the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Ride for Kids.
“We were taken to the Rise for the Kids and these people are donating all this money, we’re not doing anything,” Loose said. “The football part hit me. I had to convince Marianne to do it for a little bit because there’s some risk with football. We got some lawyers, we set up a 501c3 and it really has been a great deal.”
Loose, 60, is assistant head coach/outside linebackers coach for Army football, which comes off a 12-2 season, the most wins in program history.
He has coached…
Source link : https://www.stargazette.com/story/sports/college/2025/08/12/laurens-first-and-goal-foundation-has-raised-more-than-3-million-for-cancer-fight/85476248007/
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Publish date : 2025-08-12 08:00:00
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