Events

Tournament Organized to Raise Funds for 9-Year-Old’s Fight Against Leukemia

by Sharon Aron Baron January 14, 2018

0Shares

Tournament Organized to Raise Funds for 9-Year-Old’s Fight Against Leukemia 3

Cruz Family

By: Sharon Aron Baron

A fundraiser has been organized to raise money for 9-year-old Logan Cruz who was diagnosed with leukemia last August.

Both Coral Springs and Parkland residents are gathering together in support of Logan’s fight against cancer. They have planned “Logan’s Cruzade 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament” – to support his ongoing medical expenses, and to eventually help others fight leukemia. All proceeds will go to the Logan Alexander Cruz Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Last fall, Logan’s family discovered he was diagnosed with leukemia. It was after Logan’s aunt noticed that his neck appeared swollen when they were out together. Looking further, she discovered what appeared to be a mass on his back. She immediately told his mother Suzanne who took him to the pediatrician, who then referred him to the hospital for further testing. When the diagnosis came back as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the family, including his three siblings cried. When Logan saw his father crying, he comforted him and said, “Don’t cry, I’m okay.”

Tournament Organized to Raise Funds for 9-Year-Old’s Fight Against Leukemia 4

Logan Cruz with soccer friends at Pine Trails Park. Photo Courtesy Logan Cruz Foundation.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a blood cancer where the abnormal white blood cells gather in the bone marrow. This type of cancer progresses rapidly and healthy cells that make functional lymphocytes are replaced with leukemia cells that cannot mature properly. Then the leukemic cells travel in the bloodstream towards other organs and tissues like the brain, lymph nodes, testes, and liver where they continue to grow and divide. About 98 percent of children go through remission within weeks after treatment with 90 percent of them being cured.

Logan was born and grew up in Coral Springs. He enjoys playing basketball, hanging out with his friends, playing video games and spending time with his family. Along with his siblings Ethan, 13, Ryan, 11, and Alexa, 7, he enjoys going to the beach, playing outside, board games, going to the park, swimming and watching reality TV shows. His mother Suzanne, is a world history teacher at Westglades Middle School.

Logan would be a 4th grade student at Heron Heights Elementary, however, he cannot attend school at this time and is currently under home care while undergoing weekly treatments at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

The 3 on 3 basketball tournament will be held on Friday, February 16, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive. The entrance fee will be a donation of $5 per person, which gets each attendee a slice of pizza and a drink.

Teams will represent three age groups: 7-9 year-olds, 10-12 year-olds, and 13-15 year-olds. Team registration is $60 and registration information can be found on www.eventbrite.com. Participants can also register in person by calling 954-825-9718 or emailing Leif Herman.

Additionally, there will be shooting contests for all ages to take part in. There will be many raffles available, as well as entertainment. Food, drinks, Logan’s Cruzade merchandise, bracelets, shirts and more will be available for sale. Attendees are asked to wear orange the day of the event in support of the fight against leukemia.