WEST HARTFORD, Conn., and ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Hartford men's lacrosse is honored to announce that head coach Ryan Martin has been named one of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's inaugural Lacrosse Vs. Cancer Ambassadors. Comprised of current and former coaches, and players, Lacrosse Vs. Cancer Ambassadors represent the athletic community's shared resolve to raise awareness and funds for a world without childhood brain tumors.   
 
"I am truly honored to be named a Lacrosse Vs. Cancer Ambassador," said Martin, who enters his fifth season at the helm in 2020-21. "This great organization makes a huge impact on so many lives, and we feel very fortunate to partner with Vs. Cancer and help them move forward their mission in some small way."
 
Since 2018, the Hartford men's lacrosse team and Martin have supported Vs. Cancer. The Hawks hosted a scrimmage last fall, where they welcomed Anthony Muoio and his family. A young boy who survived a life-threatening brain tumor in 2014, Anthony inspired the start of "Anthony's Army," which is an organization that puts emphasis on raising awareness for pediatric brain tumors, in addition to encouraging the world to be kind.
 
Hartford men's lacrosse team members have also worked at Hartford's Children's Medical Center, where they assisted with toy drives over the past two years. In addition, the Hawks grow out mustaches in solidarity each fall to help raise awareness for Vs. Cancer, and raise money by selling t-shirts. In total, the men's lacrosse team has raised nearly $10,000 for the organization.
 
"Inviting Anthony Muoio and his family to be a part of our fall scrimmage last October and sharing young Anthony's story was the highlight of the year for our players and program," Martin said. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with Vs. Cancer for years to come." 
 
Since 2013, Vs. Cancer has empowered thousands of athletes to help kids with cancer. As a signature fundraising campaign of the PBTF, Vs. Cancer proceeds help fund groundbreaking research to cure pediatric brain tumors, the deadliest childhood cancer, as well as family support and child life programs in teams' communities.  To date, lacrosse programs across the nation have raised over $1 million to support the cause.
 
Vs. Cancer Ambassadors recognize firsthand the importance of supporting the childhood cancer community and the positive impact it has on their team. They will serve as a resource for other coaches and teams by answering questions about the program, sharing their inspiring success stories and working with athletic departments to spread Vs. Cancer's mission and get more teams involved.  
 
"We are grateful to see support for the Vs. Cancer mission continue to grow alongside the exciting sport of lacrosse," says Vs. Cancer Director Rachel Mark. "Each member of this group has expressed an overwhelming commitment to the fight against the deadliest childhood cancer and we are proud to partner with our ambassadors in an effort to help additional children and families through a pediatric brain tumor diagnosis." 
 
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's Vs. Cancer Ambassadors program began in 2019 with members from the baseball community and is expanding this year into the rapidly growing sport of lacrosse. Learn more at www.vs-cancer.org/vs-cancer-ambassadors or email vscancer@curethekids.org.