The Andrew Lewis Middle School girls and boys soccer teams raised well over $1,100 on Thursday, May 17 to benefit fellow student AJ Leffler who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Everyone, including coaches and players, paid $5 to attend the scrimmage (which the girls won 3-2!)

AJ’s battle with the brain tumor and cancer started in early March, when he had headaches, a sick stomach, and was sensitive to light and sound. Emergency room doctors sent him to Roanoke Memorial Children’s Intensive Care unit, and he had surgery to remove the tumor sitting at the top of his spinal column on March 12.

“They discovered it was an immature teratoma, a type of cancer,” his mom Patsy said. He recovered for several weeks at Kluge’s Children’s Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville, where they helped with his physical recovery as well as his academics. Patsy said he is recovering well, although he misses riding his bike over at Kiwanis Field, and he is sad that he probably won’t be able to play rec league football this fall.

For more info, you can also visit the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/AJsArmy

Todd Clingenpeel shares these photos from the soccer benefit – thanks Todd!

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***Tomorrow – from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 19, the Friends of AJ and AJ’s Army are hosting a pancake breakfast at the ALMS cafeteria. The cost is $5 per person or $20 per family.