This past year, the Ithaca College women’s lacrosse team made a special connection with four year-old Anya Cale Harvey, who was diagnosed with leukemia in November. Former women’s lacrosse head coach Shannon McHale, M.S. ’05, was made aware of the diagnosis and treatment that Anya was facing via a family friend, and the entire team started supporting Anya and her family through friendship and fundraising.

“She has a difficult road ahead of her, as does her entire family,” McHale said. “The team has embraced Anya and her family, welcoming them with open arms into our IC lacrosse family.”

 The 2015 IC women's lacrosse team with Anya and her brother, Kayne, in Florida.

The team started exchanging videos with Anya, and in December the lacrosse players sent photos of the holiday cookies they decorated and had Anya judge them. Last January, McHale ran in the Ocala Marathon, raising more than $2,000 for Anya’s family. She ran the race with a “flat Anya”— a cardboard cutout featuring a photo of Anya — pinned to the front and back of her shirt. 

“I felt her presence throughout the race,” McHale said. “When my legs started to get tight and tired, it was honestly easy to keep going thinking about the pain Anya deals with right now. Her family’s strength and perseverance were with me the whole way.”

The relationship continued throughout the season and became even more solidified in March. The women’s lacrosse team traveled to Clermont, Florida, on a spring training trip where they had the chance to meet Anya in person and spend time with her and her family every day.

"Our players and Anya’s family’s investment has created an amazing bond that has been so great for both sides,” McHale said.

For more on Anya, visit her Facebook page. You can also view more photos of the team and Anya during the spring training trip to Florida.