Three newly-minted Bluffton University football coaches wasted no time getting involved with Lauren's First and Goal Football Camp.
Assistant coaches Richard Ciccone, Jonathan Cooley and Jon Wheat recently joined more than 110 other college coaches for the third-annual Lauren's First and Goal Football Camp on Sunday, June 17, at Otterbein University. Ciccone takes over as the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator, while graduate assistants Cooley and Wheat will direct the safeties and defensive line, respectively.
Nearly 500 high school student-athletes attended the camp, which raised more than $16,000 for pediatric brain tumor research.
The camp is the primary fundraiser for Lauren's First and Goal Foundation, with all proceeds going directly to its mission of providing financial support for brain tumor research and cancer services, offering financial and emotional support to families living with pediatric cancer, and increasing awareness of the disease. Locally, donations help support pediatric oncology patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
During the one-day camp, players received instruction in a variety of offensive and defensive skills. Coaches representing colleges and universities from Ohio and neighboring states volunteered at the event. Ohio State University head football coach Urban Meyer served as the guest speaker, implementing a theme of "weathering the storm" to the crowd.
Lauren's First and Goal has raised a total amount of $132,212 so far this year. The ninth-annual camp was recently held at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., attracting a record-high 2,105 participants.
LFG was created in 2004 by John and Marianne Loose in honor of their 15-year-old daughter Lauren, a pediatric brain tumor survivor.
