By Carter Daniels

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the girls and boys basketball varsity teams will be playing more than just a normal basketball game. Sure, the game will be a league game test against Three Rivers League rival the West Linn Lions at home, but there is more on the line than just the outcome of the game. The two league rivals will be playing to support two local kids in the community who have recently been diagnosed with cancer.

West Linn Police Officer Catlin Blyth, who grew up in the Lake Oswego community and now serves the city of West Linn as a police officer is the organizer of the fundraiser and also runs the LtP foundation. The LtP foundation has raised over $70 thousand in 18 months since its start of the foundation in August 2018. “Within LtP we refer to the kids we work with who are battling a cancer diagnosis as LEGENDS, so our mission statement is “Supporting Childhood Legends Battling Cancer,” explained Blyth.

Blyth was recently told by the West Linn boys head coach about Ellie Shorter, a 16-year-old from Canby High School who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in September and has been receiving chemo treatment weekly. “My career is as a Police Officer, so giving back to the community is a natural part of that, but when it comes to these kids battling cancer it goes to a whole new level.”

A few weeks ago, the Laker Boys Varsity Head Coach Marshall Cho told Blyth about a recent graduate of Lake Oswego, Brock Mcnown, who also was just recently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer. Brock has two younger brothers, sophomore Rowen and senior Max. “It definitely brightens Brock’s day as well as our own, knowing that the community cares enough to organize something like this.There are so many stressors involved when a family member struggles with cancer. I feel that this event helps to lighten the load,” senior Max McNown said.

Blyth hopes that this event encourages more attention to be brought upon supporting kids with cancer and their families, while incorporating sporting events into the fundraiser. Blyth said, “I hope this Legends Game becomes a yearly event and inspires schools all over the state to make this more common. My hope is for the Legends Game to become more than just a single game, possibly a “Legends Game Week” where schools all over the area host a similar game.

The more people we get behind this cause, the easier it becomes. Once schools and student bodies jump on the wagon, it is amazing the success that is possible. It shows people that something as simple as a sporting event, can go a long way in helping someone who deserves it.”

Support the Lakers and this cause on Wednesday, Feb. 5!