Neighbor News
Inaugural Big12 Lacrosse Invitational to Benefit Brigance Brigade Foundation
Lacrosse recruiting event to benefit Baltimore-based ALS organization.
On Sunday, November 15, the inaugural Big12 Fall Invitational will take place at Blandair Park in Columbia, MD. The event, founded by Kevin Mayer, Director of Rock Lacrosse, was established to provide 2018 and 2019 lacrosse teams a viable tournament venue to compete and receive recruiting exposure to NCAA Division I, II, III programs while also bringing much needed awareness to ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), a devastating disease that affected Mayer’s family.
The tournament will feature 24 of the top lacrosse teams from across the country and over 40 Division I coaches.
Proceeds from the Big12 Fall Invitational will be donated to the Brigance Brigade Foundation, whose mission is to equip, encourage and empower people living with ALS. Founded by former Baltimore Ravens player O.J. Brigance and his wife Chanda, the Brigance Brigade Foundation improves the quality of life of people battling ALS and their families by providing access to equipment, resource guidance and support services.
Mayer hopes to utilize the growth of lacrosse to develop a fundraising outlet for ALS. Mayer’s father, Frank “Lynn” Mayer, lost his battle with the disease in 2001. Frank, who had been a driving force in the family’s involvement in lacrosse, had spent the last 5 years of his life in a wheelchair and greatly valued his support network which allowed him to live with the disease in a dignified manner.
