IS BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS
By TED SILARY
La Salle High's football team might report for practice a little late this afternoon.
If there were ever a tremendous reason for tardiness...
The Explorers' senior manager, Brian Havard, suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a form of MD for which there is no cure and limited treatment.
Today, the fourth annual Hustle for Muscle, a 5K run and 1-mile walk benefiting Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, will begin at 1:30 at the corner of Germantown and Northwestern avenues, across from Chestnut Hill College.
Havard, who also is the manager for La Salle's basketball and lacrosse teams, will follow the walking path in his motorized scooter while accompanied by the football players.
Saturday at noon at Northeast High's Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium, the Explorers will meet George Washington for the Class AAAA City Title. The game will be televised by 6ABC.
"From practices to games, Brian has always been there for us," senior quarterback Drew Loughery said. "This is the only time we've been asked to do something for him. We want to be there for him.
"Brian cares about every single sport at La Salle and does whatever he can. He used to play a lot of sports until the fifth or sixth grade, when he found out he'd be in a wheelchair for life. At our football banquet last year, they talked about Brian and mentioned that 'Heroes come in all different forms.' Brian's a great friend to all of us."
Jim Kelly, one of the student organizers, said Carol Haggerty, the administrative assistant to principal Joseph Marchese, was instrumental in rallying the school around this cause and sought the support of athletic director Tony Resch and football coach Drew Gordon.
About 100 students, he said, will participate in the 5K run. Buses will depart La Salle at 12:50.
"It's so easy to want to help Brian," Kelly said. "People are drawn to him. He makes you smile."i
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