Wayne Lacrosse Team Sponsoring Charity Drive For Young Player

WAYNE, NJ — Lacrosse players are encouraging people not shave next month as a way of helping a friend.

The Wayne Valley boys lacrosse team is holding its own No Shave November campaign in honor of Jake Rudd, a township boy who is battling Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of children's bone cancer.

Rudd is a freshman at Valley. He was diagnosed in April 2016. He has undergone months of intensive chemotherapy and underwent surgery to save his leg.

The campaign is a part of No Shave November, a national campaign that raises awareness and funds to support cancer prevention, research and education. Participants do not shave for the entire month.

More than $36,000 has been donated to help Rudd and his family in the year and a half since he was diagnosed.

"The Rudd family is beyond grateful for the amazing support they have received throughout their journey," said Robert Glander, Valley's head boys lacrosse coach.

The team hopes to raise $1,000. The money will be donated to Tackle Kids Cancer, a charity run by Hackensack University Medical Center, and the Tomorrow's Children's Fund.

Glander encourages participants to share pictures of their "no shave" efforts on social media with the hashtag #stachesforjr and follow the campaign on Instagram.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Image: Robert Glander/Via gofundme