What’s more important than battling for wins? Battling cancer

Photo Courtesy of Ava Regan

Lyndsey Huss is a senior business real estate major on the women’s lacrosse team at Chapman. She wrote this article in first-person, with help from The Panther’s Riley Wood.

LaCROSSe Out Cancer has hosted dedication games nationwide, but its roots trace back to Maryland. Last year, they held a powerful moment of silence where every player held up a flyer that read “I stand with,” followed by the name of someone in their life affected by cancer. That moment resonated deeply with me, and I knew I wanted to bring something similar to our team.

Before our game on March 6, I asked each of my teammates to write down the name of someone they wanted to dedicate to our game and our win. We spent 10 minutes before practice reflecting on those individuals — mothers, late friends, family members and even fellow teammates who have battled cancer. It was an incredibly emotional and unifying moment.

Personally, this game held an even more profound significance. I dedicated it to my mom’s best friend, who courageously fought and survived breast cancer, and to myself, as I overcame cancer two years ago. 

Having my mom and dad there in the stands, supporting me, meant everything. Sharing that moment with them was truly the most rewarding part.

Two years ago, I noticed a small growth on my eyelid, which my parents and I initially thought was a stubborn stye. But it kept growing, and after seeing three doctors, I was referred to an ophthalmologist for a biopsy. 

On July 31, 2023, I was diagnosed with invasive squamous cell carcinoma. That moment is still the worst day of my life. I had no idea how it would affect my future: school, lacrosse or even studying abroad. The only silver lining was that Mohs surgery was a safe option. 

The hardest part was the waiting. For two agonizing weeks, I played out every possible scenario. On August 14, 2023, I underwent surgery, and to everyone’s surprise, the tumor grew upward instead of downward into my face. Thankfully, they were able to remove all of it without extensive reconstruction. 

Today, the only reminder is a small scar — a physical mark of the fear, uncertainty and immense gratitude I now carry.

Not everyone is as lucky as I was. Those two weeks taught me more about life than I ever imagined. They forced me to realize what and who truly matters. They instilled in me a deep sense of gratitude, which I take with me in everything I do.

This is why I am so passionate about using my platform for this cause. I know what it feels like to have your world flipped upside down, sit in uncertainty, and feel powerless. But I also know the strength of turning pain into purpose. 

Hosting this game, raising awareness, and fighting for those who don’t have the same outcome I did — it’s not just something I wanted to do, it’s something I needed to do. And I will continue doing it for those who weren’t as lucky as me.

Pediatric cancer research is severely underfunded. We’ve already made an impact if this event inspires even one person to donate, spread awareness or advocate for more support. It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of something as devastating as cancer, but through events like this, we can turn awareness into action and help bring real change.

Beyond raising money, this game also brought us closer than ever as a team. Reflecting on the people in our lives affected by cancer reminded us why we play: not just for ourselves, but for something bigger. That shared sense of purpose created a different energy on the field. We weren’t just teammates that night but a united force playing for those who can’t.

Last year, we dedicated a game to Morgan’s Message, which advocated for athlete’s mental health, and seeing its success made me realize the power of using our platform for a greater cause. This year, given my personal experience with cancer, I felt compelled to dedicate a game to cancer victims.

Seeing my teammates rally behind this cause was incredibly meaningful, and the response from our community was overwhelming. By the end of the game, we had raised $3,027. While that may not be enough to end pediatric cancer, every dollar brings us closer to funding research, supporting families and making an impact.

Organizing this game came with challenges, but every obstacle was worth overcoming. One of the biggest hurdles was working within our team’s budget constraints. The women’s lacrosse program doesn’t always have the funding we’d like. Still, we were able to provide custom shirts for every player, which made the game feel even more special.

Another unexpected challenge came when our initially scheduled game on March 1 was canceled due to our opponent forfeiting. Rescheduling on short notice wasn’t easy, but we secured a new date for the following Thursday, ensuring the game — and the cause — still got the attention it deserved.

As someone who has fought and survived childhood cancer, this game held a weight that was impossible to ignore. I pushed myself harder than ever, and I could feel that same energy radiating through my teammates. Our dominant 17-2 victory reflected that passion and drive.

I hope this game sparks a movement, encouraging more teams to host dedication games and rally behind causes that matter to them.

Our support for LaCROSSe Out Cancer doesn’t end here. Many of my teammates and I wear pediatric cancer ribbons on our backpacks and bracelets on our sticks, a daily reminder of this important cause.

If you would like to contribute to the fundraising efforts, you can donate at the Chapman women’s lacrosse team page.