STANDISH, Maine – The Saint Joseph's College men's lacrosse program will host a "Reps for Research" event as a fundraiser near the entrance of Pearson's Café on Wednesday, December 3rd. All proceeds generated at the event, which has been organized by senior midfielder Brandon Boutin (Hackettstown, N.J.) with the help of Head Coach David Beriau, will be donated to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR).
The format of the event features a bench press competition for the participants, who can either seek out a sponsor, to donate a given amount for each rep, or make a donation of their own to enter. The men will attempt to lift 135 pounds, and the women 55 pounds, for the highest number of possible reps with the winner from each category earning flex dollar prizes to use for on-campus purchases.
The "Reps for Research" fundraiser will be held in memory of Brandon's mother, Lynn Boutin, who suffered from Sarcoidosis and passed away due to complications of the affliction, at age 49, last February.
Sarcoidosis (pronounced SAR-COY-DOE-SIS) is an inflammatory disease that can affect almost any organ in the body. It causes heightened immunity, which means that a person's immune system, which normally protects the body from infection and disease, overreacts, resulting in damage to the body's own tissues.
No one knows exactly what causes Sarcoidosis, but it is probably due to a combination of factors. Some research suggests that bacteria, viruses or chemicals might trigger the disease. Although such triggers might not bother most people, it is possible that in someone with the right genetic predisposition they provoke the immune system to develop the inflammation associated with Sarcoidosis.
Sarcoidosis leads to organ damage in about one-third of the people diagnosed with the disease. Damage may occur over many years and involve more than one organ. Rarely, Sarcoidosis can be fatal. Death usually is the result of problems with the lungs, heart, or brain.
To learn more about the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, click here
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
