Rusty Fund

InTheNet Sports Academy is proud to announce the beginning of the Rusty Fund on 11/28/05. To date, ITN, family, friends and the NH community has raised over $15,000!  The Rusty Fund is based on good friend, Michelle "Rusty Pierce" Oaks, who is a long time In The Net. Michelle has been coming to In The Net for several years through the various team clinics as well as summer camps. Michelle is an unbelievable soccer player but more importantly, an amazing little girl that always wants a soccer ball around, and always has a smile on her face.
 
Unfortunately, Michelle was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Neuroblastoma, which is a cancerous tumor (Stage 4 Cancer), in Oct. of 2005 and continues to have several tumors growing throughout her body.  She has been receiving a highly aggressive form of chemotherapy, that could last up to 12 months at children's hospital in Boston.  Her day-to-day activities are very limited as she is having trouble eating, moving around, and tires easily.  She is currently receiving Chemo treatment at the Children's Hospital in Boston from the areas best doctors.  Despite being in great hands, this 9-12 month process has Michelle and her family fighting every day to get through this rough time and need as much support as possible.
 
InTheNet has promised $1 from every In The Net participant starting Jan. 1, 2006, regardless of program, to go into the Rusty Fund to help the Oaks family cope with this very difficult time.  In The Net will also be hosting several tournaments, events and clinics throughout the year to help raise money for Michelle and her family.  Please be on the lookout for these upcoming events and please help, donate, and/or participate as much as possible to raise money for the Rusty Project.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with Michelle and her family because we all know if there is someone that will beat this, it is Rusty.  We love you, pray for you and think of you every day!
 
On behalf of Michelle ("Rusty"), the Oaks family, Patrick Mulcahy and In The Net, we all thank you in advance for your time, generosity, and efforts with this project.  We are very grateful for any and all gifts, as we support Michelle through the course of her disease and treatment.
 
Where did the name Rusty come from you might ask?
Her moms explain ... Everyone at the In The Net started calling her Rusty and from there it stuck. She has earned the nick-name "Rusty" by Patrick and all of the coaches because of her unbelievable ability to not let anyone get by her, regardless of age, and her great desire to compete and work hard (just like Rusty Pierce from the NE Revolution). Our family has really been blessed by all that Patrick has done to help us through all this with Michelle...he truly has a great big heart for kids. Michelle loves his camps and would be at one every week of the summer if she could. I think we got in 4 weeks one summer!
 
How you can help:
InTheNet is doing everything in its power to help beat Cancer, especially with kids, and hopes to team up the American Cancer Society and the National Soccer Coaches of America Association to win this fight.  We also plan on approaching business leaders from across the country to explore new and innovative ways to fund the fight against cancer and send the powerful message that we can win.

To donate directly, find out more information, or become a sponsor of the Rusty fund, please contact Patrick at patrick@inthenetsportsacademy.com

One example of what a team is doing to help raise money:
 
Parents pledge between 1 and 5 dollars per goal your team scores for a season/year. For example: a winter indoor 8 week session, we scored 9 goals so if you pledged a 2 dollar amount, your donation would be 18 dollars. Any pledge amounts, large or small would be very helpful. You would then present a check in the amount raised by your players and parents to Patrick Mulcahy from InTheNet on behalf of your team. This would be a team effort but you could also combine pledge amounts from other teams and clubs as well as anything and everything will help.