Morais Supports Former Player During Cancer Treatment
Greenport, NY| Women's soccer head coach Rafael Morais participated in an event celebrating Sam Duffy at Greenport's Herzog Park earlier this week.
Duffy, a seven-year-old Southold resident, has battled leukemia for three and a half years and celebrated a successful prognosis. "Watching Sam come to soccer practice after having just gone through a procedure only hours before, was not only inspiring but it was courageous," stated Coach Morais. "His smile would light up the soccer field and he was always working hard."
The event featured a potluck dinner with soccer, music, a piñata, superheroes and swimming at the beach. Holly Lanzetta, Sam's mother, was so grateful for the community and that "hundreds of people" have helped her and her son throughout their journey. She also stated that there are plans to start a foundation to benefit children with cancer called "Sam's Heroes" that will arrange for superheroes to visit kids in hospitals.
Coach Morais would visit Sam at Stony Brook hospital to play soccer with him and lift his spirits. "I am so happy to be able to celebrate his victory over childhood cancer," said Morais. "He is such a wonderful kid, and he deserves this celebration!"
