LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017) –
LA Galaxy II and the LA Galaxy Foundation will host Pediatric Cancer Night in support of the Jessie Rees Foundation and all those battling pediatric cancer during their match at 7:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Sept. 6 against Reno 1868 FC. At the game, the club, LA Galaxy Foundation and Jessie Rees Foundation will honor Fredy, a young local boy battling Leukemia, currently in remission since being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in August 2016.
Fredy will be honored as the team’s 12
th
man for the match, executing the pre-game coin toss, standing with the team for the national anthem and appearing in the traditional Starting XI photo. He’ll watch the team’s pre-game warmups from the bench with his family, before taking in the match alongside LA Galaxy II defender Josh Turnley.
All those in attendance at the match are encouraged to “Go Gold,” wearing gold clothing and accessories to the match. Additionally, the game will be played with gold soccer nets and gold corner flags. Fans are encouraged to support the night’s theme on social media, hashtagging #GoGold to show off their gold gear and #NEGU in support of the Jessie Rees Foundation’s famous Never Ever Give Up® motto and those battling pediatric cancer.
“We are very excited to host Fredy and his family at our match on Wednesday,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “We’ll all be in gold supporting him in his battle with cancer and letting him know that his local club has his back.”
Fredy is a member of the Jessie Rees Foundation, a nonprofit charity started by Jessie Rees. Rees, once a young girl with her own 10 month and 2 day battle with 2 inoperable brain tumors (DIPG), decided to focus her energy on helping the other kids fighting cancer alongside her. She developed JoyJars® to provide care for these young fighters, assuring them they were not alone and encouraging them to Never Ever Give Up – #NEGU. To date, the Foundation has been able to send out over 150,000 JoyJars to kids fighting cancer in all 50 states and 32 countries. They ship Jessie’s JoyJars to children’s hospitals, care centers, proton clinics, Ronald McDonald Houses and oncology camps.
Jessie’s JoyJars are 64 oz. plastic jars stuffed with gender specific, age appropriate toys, games and activities meant to lift the spirits of a child in the midst of their battle with cancer. A cancer diagnosis often leaves a child and their family feeling lonely and limited. Jessie’s JoyJars are designed to provide encouragement and cure bad days for these Courageous Kids.
Rees’ wish became the Jessie Rees Foundation’s mission, encouraging every child fighting cancer to Never Ever Give Up. Jessie Rees Foundation supports the battles of their Never Ever Give Up kids, of which Fredy is one.
