Cedar Cliff senior Adam Breneman, a Penn State recruit, is injured and can't play football this fall. But that hasn't stopped him from raising money for ALS.
He told me today he's raised roughly $30,000.
Here's the story behind his efforts (prior to his injury):
ADAM BRENEMAN TEAMS UP WITH PROJECT A.L.S. TO CATCH THE CURE
Top-Ranked Tight End Joins Project A.L.S. to Raise Funds and Awareness for Deadly Neurodegenerative Disease
Camp Hill, PA—This fall, the nation’s top-ranked high school tight end is teaming up with Project A.L.S. to Catch the Cure—and stop the devastating brain disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Adam Breneman, who has committed to play football at Penn State in fall 2013, will dedicate his senior year at Cedar Cliff High School to raising money to cure ALS, a neurodegenerative illness that is closely related to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Catch the Cure, marking the partnership between Breneman and Project A.L.S., will start a new chapter in ALS advocacy and fundraising. Breneman, whose talents have been extolled on ESPN, Bleacher Report, Scout.com and many other outlets, will work with Project A.L.S. to raise significant funds for ALS research, raise awareness about ALS and advocate for those with neurodegenerative brain diseases around the world.
“Adam is an incredibly talented and hardworking young man, but his empathy and drive to do good make him a truly exceptional person,” said Project A.L.S. President and Co-Founder Meredith Estess. “Project A.L.S. is honored to partner with him in the fight against ALS.”
ALS hit close to Breneman, 17, when his neighbor and brother’s former football coach Tom Kirchhoff was diagnosed. Breneman saw the devastating effect that the disease had on Kirchhoff, an executive at Cleveland Brothers, but he also saw Kirchhoff’s resilience and spirit. Kirchhoff, his family and friends, have refused to let ALS conquer them and instead proclaim, “We Will Win.” Cleveland Brothers has generously offered to match all funds raised in Catch the Cure to double its impact on ALS research.
Less than a month into planning the campaign, Breneman tore his ACL in a 7-on-7 scrimmage. Now, as he undergoes surgery and spends the year in rehab preparing to enter Penn State, he’s taken a lesson from Kirchhoff’s “We Will Win” mentality and is determined that his injury will make him mentally and physically stronger as a player. He will showcase his fight to recover and, supported by his community and teammates, will inspire people around the world to Catch the Cure for Project A.L.S. research.
“Tom and Adam are indomitable spirits. They personify the stubborn work in the face of adversity that will understand and effectively treat ALS,” said Meredith.
Every dollar raised through Catch the Cure will go directly to Project A.L.S. research. For more information about Adam and Catch the Cure:
Website: http://catch-the-cure.com
Donate: catch-the-cure.com/donate
