News Article
@ Seventh Annual Scrum for Six Rugby Event 2009 :
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His battle is not lost unless we quit
On Saturday May 9th, 2009, the seventh annual Michael Bartone Memorial Rugby Tournament was held at the home pitch of the Brandywine Rugby Football Club in West Marlborough, Pennsylvania. In recognition of the number Michael wore during his fourteen year career, the Scrum for Six, as the Event is called, was started in 2003 following his death.
He thought that the tingling in his extremities was due to the many nerve-jarring tackles that he made during his football and rugby careers. Maybe they were related to the more tedious motions of his profession of plumber. As his character dictated, he played and worked through the pain, never complaining and continuing to perform at his customary high level. He continued to play Rugby until his body would no longer allow. His visits to the pitch after that took all of his courage. It was in 1999 when Michael Bartone finally learned that the degradation of his body was due to Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS.
ALS, more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, affects approximately 30,000 Americans at any one time. 5600 new patients are diagnosed in the U. S. each year. It is a disease that attacks the Central Nervous System, limiting the ability to control muscles. Twenty percent of the patients die within three years of their diagnosis.
Michael died in March 2002, during his battle with the disease. Shortly after his death, a Memorial Foundation was formed to accomplish three key goals, carry on his battle with ALS, preserve his memory and continue his unselfish inspiration. The concept of a Rugby event was the vision of Ray O’Malley, who has helped lead the organizing efforts for all five years.
Over 500 spectators and players enjoyed a day full of Rugby fun for all genders and all ages. Thanks to the support of our Players, Sponsors and other contributers, another fourteen thousand dollars were raised for the fight against ALS and the Scholarship Fund. Special thanks goes to key sponsors, Land Hope Farms, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and H&H Landscaping, without whom the day would not be possible. To date, including the annual golf outing and dinner dance, the group has raised over two hundred fifteen thousand dollars in total. Over one hundred sixty thousand has been donated to the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association in Michael’s name. Additionally, six students have received scholarships totaling eighteen thousands dollars and over thirty six thousand five hundred dollars are invested in a trust fund for future awards.
Michael Bartone Memorial Foundation
Proudly Presents
Seventh Annual
Michael Bartone Memorial
Rugby Event
“Scrum for #6”
May 9th, 2009
Brandywine Rugby Club Home Pitch
East Marlborough, PA
11:00 First Game
Brandywine Old Boys Vs South Jersey RFC Old Boys
Directions
From West Chester
Take Route 202 South
Turn RIGHT on Route 926 for 13.5 miles
Turn LEFT onto Howell-Moore Road
Pitch is 1 mile on the LEFT.
PARKING IS VERY LIMITED – CARPOOL IF POSSIBLE
Admission $5.00 per person/$10.00 per family
Food, drink and commemorative items will be sold
All proceeds benefit the Michael Bartone Memorial Fund in support of the fight against ALS ( Lou Gehrig’s Disease ) and annual scholarship fund.
Download the Player/Sponsor sheet for 2009
www.brandywinerfc.com/pdfs/09als-rug
bysponsor.pdf
Click here for the Michael Bartone Memorial Foundation Web site
Spring 2010
