from left to right: Steve Cowell, Lucy Jones, Brad Thorp, Beth Thorp, Glenn Malone
On Saturday, December 2, 2017, LA Galaxy San Diego held the 5th annual Giving Back fundraiser. The fundraiser consisted of in-house scrimmages between our younger competitive teams, with volunteer referees and LAGSD competitive coaches ensuring that games went smoothly. Like previous years, the event was a huge success, raising a total of $11,576. Add this to our previous four giving back events and we have now managed to raise over $60,000 for worthy community causes. These raised monies have made a life changing impact and, in certain instances, a life saving impact in our local community.
This year the chosen recipient was club recreational player Parys Townsend, who, after three years of searching for answers to her condition, has found out she has a very rare disease called Dock8 deficiency – which means she is missing a genetic component that weakens her immune system to life threatening levels (her white blood cell count is so low that she is constantly sick to the point that she has been given no choice but to go through a Bone Marrow Transplant and Chemotherapy).
Parys, aged 13, has played from 2009 up until last season in our recreational program and has been an All Star with the club. She is being supported by the very worthy Carlsbad based charity, the Mitchell Thorp Foundation who do amazing work supporting families whose children suffer from life-threatening illnesses, diseases and disorders, by providing financial, emotional and resource support to their desperate situation. To find out more about Parys’ story or to donate please visit: https://mitchellthorp.org/crowdfund/50/parys/
LAGSD Technical Director, Steve Cowell, commented, “With over 4,000 Carlsbad and North County families, one of the biggest opportunities and responsibilities we have as a club is to give back and support our local community. I could think of no more deserving recipient of this years event than the wonderful Mitchell Thorp Foundation and in particular Parys and her family. We wish them all the best on Parys journey to recovery.”
“Everyone involved in the Mitchell Thorp Foundation and our recipients, in particular, Parys, would like to thank LA Galaxy San Diego and all their families for raising such a tremendous sum of money,” said Mitchell Thorp Foundation Executive Director, Beth Thorp. “The money raised will go toward the Medical and Home Assistance Program under the Mitchell Thorp Foundation which is currently funding Pary’s outstanding medical bills.”
LAGSD Director of Boys, Glenn Malone, added, “This year our Giving Back Fundraiser was a fantastic event for a very worthy cause. Every game was played in such a great spirit, with everybody involved truly appreciating what the day was all about. A special thanks to all the volunteers that made it happen, and especially our referees who played a big part in making the day a huge success.”
To view a selection of pictures from the day please click here.
These events define our club and our community spirit. We really appreciate your help and know that the Mitchell Thorp Foundation and the families they assist are extremely grateful for your support!
