JOHNTOWN – The Johnstown boys lacrosse team has received support from its fans and the community as they represent their school.
Now the Sir Bills are hoping to show their appreciation and support for one of their own.
On April 20, the Sir Bills will host a daylong event featuring four boys lacrosse games and a fireworks display at Knox field, in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“Jeremy [Serpa] Mowrey has battled with diabetes and he has been one of our top athletes the past few years,” Johnstown boys varsity coach Scott Petrie said. “We really wanted to do this for him. We always talk about the idea that there is not enough money out there for research but all these small donations make a difference.”
Mowrey, a senior, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes six years ago.
“I had passed out and when I woke up in the hospital they told me I had diabetes,” he said. “I had no idea what it was. Through the years I have learned what it is and how to deal with it. It is a life experience for me. I was pumped when they told me about [the event]. My teammates all know and have been very supportive. There are maybe three or four around here that I know of and one of them is my cousin.”
Mowrey has had a successful high school athletic career participating in soccer, skiing and lacrosse for Johnstown High School.
“Last year the team raised money for cancer awareness,” Rachael Mowrey said. “This year the coach said because Jeremy is a senior on the team they decided to fundraise for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.”
The team is fundraising for JDRF, a leader in the search for an end to type 1 diabetes through both research funding and advocacy the organization says.
“We sent out letters to local business asking for donations and we have received very good support,” Rachael Mowrey said.
The event will start at 10 a.m. with the Johnstown and Amsterdam junior varsity teams squaring off, followed by the seventh and eighth grade teams from Johnstown and Cambridge playing at 1 p.m. and the Cambridge varsity will play Notre Dame-Utica at 4 p.m.
The event will be capped off by a non-league contest between the host Sir Bills and the Amsterdam Rams at 7 p.m.
During halftime, fireworks, provided by Alonzo’s Fireworks, will fill the skies over Knox Field thanks to sponsorship from Frontier, Euphrates, Walmart Distribution Center, Taylor Made and Stewarts.
“Broadalbin-Perth did that as part of their Pink Out Game last fall,” Rachael Mowrey said. “We enjoyed it and thought we would give it a try.”
The team will be selling wristbands all day supporting the JDRF, as well as passing a hat for donations. A small donation will be requested at the gate for admission for the event.
