In 2010, Liam Fitzgerald, who was then 4, was entering treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and nobody knew what to expect. But after 3 ½ years of treatment, Liam, who has Down syndrome, came through with flying colors. What probably didn't hurt was the love, resilience and support of his family, not only for Liam personally but for others like him. In November, Liam's brother, Nick Cavanna, played in the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress' 9th Annual Hockey Benefit Game featuring the MDSC All-Stars versus the Boston Bruins Alumni team made up of Bruins legends. In advance of the game at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro, Nick raised more than $3,000 in honor of Liam to support the MDSC programs for people with Down syndrome. At the silent auction, Liam's family brought home for Liam the bike of his dreams from Belmont Wheelworks. As Nick wrote on his fundraising page at the time, Liam "loves sports and the Bruins!" Indeed, Liam had even dressed as his favorite Bruin, defenseman Adam McQuaid, a 5-year veteran with the Bruins, for Halloween. The MDSC, which partners with the Bruins Foundation on the Annual Hockey Benefit and a 50/50 raffle at a Bruins game each year, helped connect Liam's family with the Bruins. On Feb. 1, 2014, McQuaid invited Liam and his family to the game as his special guest at the TD Garden as the Bruins faced off against the Edmonton Oilers. According to Liam's mom, Christine, going to the game as the special guest of Adam McQuaid was "the best ever." Liam met the Bruins Ice Girls, mascot Blades the bear, and players Brad Marchand, Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron, Johnny Boychuk and Shawn Thornton. But that wasn't all, she said. "Liam was fan of the game, given a Lucic pin from a fan, a Combat Action Badge from an Iraq War survivor, a medal blessed by the Pope from a woman in the train station, and $20 from a stranger for his savings account," she said. "There are many amazing and giving people in the world. But the best part of the day was seeing how happy and how much fun Liam had," she added. According to Maureen Gallagher, Executive Director of the MDSC, Liam and his family exemplify the MDSC's theme for 2014, "Champions," which is based on the Boston Strong mentality of people coming together to overcome challenges and the positive sense of community pride that has developed as a result. "We are thrilled that Liam and his family were able to have a night to remember at the Bruins game," Gallagher said. "The family has given so much to the MDSC, and now the Bruins organization has given so much to them. The Fitzgeralds and the Bruins are true Champions!" Throughout the year, the MDSC is highlighting the Champions of the Down syndrome movement here in Massachusetts and demonstrate the resilience of our community and how we all pull together to ensure that people with Down syndrome everywhere have opportunities to lead fulfilling lives.

• published: 06 Nov 2014
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