Brigance Brigade Teams Up With Big 12 Lacrosse Invitational To Fight ALS

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's a big opportunity for high athletes, but also a big change to give back to a great cause.

The second annual Big 12 Lacrosse Invitational, teams up with the Brigance Brigade Foundation to open doors for college recruitment and help families battling ALS.

This game of lacrosse has two meanings today:

One being seen by some of the top college lacrosse coaches, the other, financially helping the Brigance Brigade Foundation.

"I mean you can't help but just be humbled. To see the big hearts and see the hearts of people who willing to help," said Chanda Brigance, Brigance Brigade Foundation.

Chanda Brigance is the wife of former Raven, O.J. Brigance, who is battling the neurodegenerative disease, ALS.

Sunday's Big 12 Lacrosse Invitational brought out 1,200 high school lacrosse players, all looking to get discovered and recruited by one or more of the 100 NCAA coaches on hand.

"It's really an opportunity for the kids to open doors to play lacrosse in college and for some of the kids, it's opened for to just playing in college," said Kevin Mayer, Rock Lacrosse.

A win - win for both the players and the Brigance Brigade Foundation, providing equipment, encouragement and empowering those living with the disease.

"People really care about people having a better way of life," said Chanda Brigance.

"The infrastructure that we were given as a family: the wheel chairs, raps, respirators and all the support that we were offered, really helped us as a family to be with him during his remaining days, and it really affected his quality of life," said Mayer.

Organizers of the invitational say kids came from as far west as Texas, far south as Florida and far north as New York.

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