Lawrence softball to host Friends of Jaclyn Day on Sunday
The Lawrence University softball team has shown its skill this season, but the Vikings’ heart will be on display Sunday.
Emma Broeniman was adopted by the Lawrence University softball team last fall.
Lawrence is staging a Friends of Jaclyn Day for Sunday’s doubleheader against the University of Chicago at Whiting Field. The first pitch is set for 11 a.m.
The Vikings have “adopted” Emma Broeniman, an eight-year-old from Appleton who suffers from neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). The softball squad got connected with Broeniman through Friends of Jaclyn, an organization that matches children in need of love, support and friendship with a college or high school sports team.
“I do believe that our participation in this program could be our single greatest accomplishment this season,” Lawrence head coach Kim Tatro said. “It’s that special and has that much of an impact.”
The Friends of Jaclyn Day is intended to be a celebration and a fundraiser, Tatro said. Fans attending the doubleheader will be able to make donations to Friends of Jaclyn, participate in a 50-50 raffle and bid on silent auction items.
Broeniman is currently going through her third round of chemotherapy at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison for an optic chiasm glimoa, which is a tumor that affects the optic chiasm. Broeniman has lost all the vision in her left eye.
Broeniman also suffers from pseudoarthrosis, a side effect of NF-1 that causes tibia to break and not heal.
A unique aspect to Sunday’s doubleheader will be the meeting between Broeniman and Jenna Rose Jongsma. She is an eight-year-old with NF-1 and has been adopted by the Chicago squad. Jongsma, who is being treated at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and her family will join the Maroons for the trip to Appleton.
Because of the unique and rare nature of the medical condition of the two girls, the two families have known and supported each other for years but have never met.
“We are very excited to have the chance to celebrate the Friends of Jaclyn program and our relationships with Emma and Jenna,” Tatro said. “What makes this weekend especially unique is the fact that both teams are participating and benefitting from this program.”
