‘3’ of a very special kind
FORT MYERS, Fla. Her son could not be here. He has been dealing with a bout of pneumonia and remains in rehab after undergoing a tracheotomy.
But with the Boston Red Sox lined up on the third base line at JetBlue Park Tuesday afternoon and the Boston College Eagles doing the same on the first base line, all wearing jerseys that said on the back and bore his number 3, Nancy Frates was determined that her son Pete was not going to miss this.
So she had him on her cellphone, Facetiming him, urging players from both teams to shout greetings to the former BC captain who has become the nation most remarkable advocate in the battle against the horrific disease that afflicts him, ALS.Cheap Jerseys free shipping
It has been three years since Pete Frates, a lifelong Red Sox fan, was diagnosed with ALS. Last year, as the face to the Bucket Challenge that became a social media phenomenon, Frates helped raise in excess of $100 million for ALS research. He also became a father for the first time, and an ambassador of inspiration with few equals.
BC coach Mike Gambino, whose team already planned to wear replicas of the uniforms that Frates had worn while at BC, had contacted the Sox to see if they might join in the tribute. Sox chief operating officer Sam Kennedy loved the idea, which led to Tuesday moving scene.
Why We Love Sports Today: Red Sox Boston College wear Pete Frates jerseys to honor former BC captain fighting ALS. Last summer, Farrell was among the members of the Sox, including team owners Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino, who took the Bucket Challenge. He also was present when Frates, who had homered in Fenway Park while playing for the Eagles, had a bucket of ice water dumped over him in the Fenway outfield.
Farrell was asked if he had spent enough time around Frates, now 30, and his family to feel a connection.
don know how you can he said. witness someone who has dealt with an unfortunate situation, the challenge he dealing with, his family is dealing with, to see the way they handled it with grace and a heightened awareness.
was shocked to hear the amount of funds raised by their approach. Incredible. I don know how you can take inspiration from their family and what they going through. We fortunate to be able to get involved. uniforms worn by both teams are being auctioned off to benefit the Pete Frates Fund. Bids are opening at $100. You can submit a bid HERE.
you see someone healthy and vibrant, someone in their early 20s, and see what disease can do to someone, it makes you press pause and step back, said Farrell, who had experienced a profound health scare with his son Luke, who was discovered to have a golfball sized tumor in his neck and needed multiple surgeries to remove it, the family relieved to learn it was benign.