Lax tournament raises money to fight childhood cancer

<p>Dozens of lacrosse teams from across Long Island braved the rain and took the field, to help fight cancer during a special one-day tournament.</p>

News 12 Staff

May 12, 2018, 9:30 PM

Updated 2,348 days ago

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Dozens of lacrosse teams from across Long Island braved the rain and took the field, to help fight cancer during a special one-day tournament.
The fields filled up at Heckscher State Park to honor Christian Koehler. His parents, Chris and Janine Koehler, founded the tournament nine years ago, shortly after losing their son to brain cancer at age 10.
"The Long Island community has stood behind my family, my wife and I, and held us up at points where we couldn't stand on our own,” said Chris Koehler.
Christian’s parents say the boy always had a lacrosse stick in his hands and loved the sport. He was diagnosed with glioblastoma – the same type of cancer being fought by Sen. John McCain.
Organizers say the tournament has raised an average of $30,000 each year for several charities, including the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation.