And They're Off! Kean University Student-Athletes Step Up for Sarcoma- Founded by Manalapan Resident

Photo Caption: And they’re off! Kean student-athletes participated in the Third Annual 5k Step Up for Sarcoma Run/Walk on September 21.

Student-athletes from Kean University’s men’s lacrosse team participated in the Third Annual Step Up for Sarcoma 5k Run/Walk to raise money for the cancer-focused charity on September 21 at the Manalapan Recreation Center.

“Kean student-athletes recognize the importance of being involved in and giving back to the community,” said Chris Morgan, Director of Athletics. “The Step Up for Sarcoma event was especially meaningful because it affects someone in our extended athletics family.”

Step Up for Sarcoma was founded by Jessica Bruzzi following her diagnosis with the rare form of cancer that represents about 1% of all cancer cases diagnosed each year in the United States. Bruzzi’s sister and brother are Kean alumni; Jennifer, former statistician for the men’s lacrosse program, graduated in 2009 with a B.A. in Education, and Dennis graduated this past May 2014 with a B.A. in Communication. The Bruzzi’s are residents of Manalapan, N.J.

The event raised approximately $11,000, including $1,000 from Kean’s men’s lacrosse team, to benefit sarcoma research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and helped spread awareness about sarcoma to the local community.

“Coach Sheiner and Kean’s men’s lacrosse team have been wonderful,” said Bruzzi. “They have really gone above and beyond to help me and to bring attention to sarcoma.”

In addition to their participation in the event, Kean’s lacrosse team also hand-made get-well cards to send to patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering.