Soccer tourney shoots to cure genetic disease

There's no doubt bragging rights will be a prime motivator for the varsity soccer players from Metea Valley High School as they play their coaches and teachers.

But when the time runs out on the student-teacher match, the most important numbers of the night won't be on the scoreboard but in the tally of money raised by the Angie's Hope organization to fight spinal muscular atrophy.

The coed soccer game - featuring players from both the boys and girls soccer teams facing off against both teams' head coaches and other Metea staff - highlights this year's Angie's Hope SMA Big Ball Soccer Tournament. At least 250 players and spectators are expected to take part in the fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Players Indoor Sports, 1740 Quincy Ave., Naperville. The varsity-faculty game begins at 7 p.m.

Angie's Hope began as a way for the Naperville neighbors of Angie Lee to rally around her and her family and to fund research for SMA treatments and a cure through the Cure SMA Foundation. The group started fundraising with community yard sales when Angie was in elementary school.

Angie is now a 16-year-old Metea honor student, and the organization she inspires raised about $30,000 for the cause with last year's inaugural Big Ball Soccer Tournament. Organizers hope to top that figure with this year's event.

SMA is a debilitating, neuromuscular disease that's the leading genetic killer of children younger than 2. It destroys the nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement, which affects crawling, walking, head and neck control, and even swallowing. One in every 6,000 babies is born with the disease and one in every 40 people carries the gene that causes SMA. It can strike anyone of any race, age or gender, yet many do not know that it exists until it strikes their own family.

Angie is beating the odds, thanks to research and treatment discoveries funded by events such as the Big Ball Soccer Tournament. She navigates life from a motorized wheelchair, making the big ball tournament perfectly fitting - the games are played with a 40-inch soft soccer ball that's wheelchair friendly.

"I'm excited to have Metea boys and girls soccer as a part of such an inspiring event. It is something that many of the kids in the past have participated in and to be able to help out by playing a coed exhibition match is thrilling for everyone," boys head soccer coach Joshua Robinson said. "It's a win-win situation all around. With head girls coach Chris Whaley being my assistant and me being his on the girls side, this is an ideal opportunity to continue to foster a great connection between the two teams while also giving back in a meaningful way to the community."

Spectators of all ages are invited to attend and enjoy the tournament and the exhibition game. In addition, the Chicago Fire's Street Team will be on hand rallying participants, offering giveaways and providing free Xbox gaming and an opportunity to bid on a soccer ball autographed by the Chicago Fire. Metea's Marty the Mustang and the Fire's Sparky will go head-to-head on the Big Ball soccer field.

Admission is $5. For information, visit angieshope.org.