Number of Participants: 23
Hours Donated: 1
Value of Time Served: $194
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Football
Date: March 24, 2021
Location:
Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School
Ashley Boulevard, New Bedford
MA
About:
Sharing the story to show how Lynch’s teammates have come together to support their friend and have been by his side throughout it all.
A grieving Cam Lynch honors his late parents by leading GNB Voc-Tech football
“Cam Lynch almost didn’t play football this year.
With the sudden death of his 56-year-old mother, Teena Santos, just a few weeks before the start of practice for Fall 2, the GNB Voc-Tech junior was struggling.
He didn’t know what to do.
“My mom was my No. 1 fan ever since Little League baseball, Pop Warner football and youth basketball,” said the 17-year-old Lynch. “She was always at all my games. It sucks she can’t be there anymore.” ….
The more Cam Lynch thought about giving up football this season to grieve the devastating loss of his mother to COVID-related complications, the more sure he became of playing it to honor both of his parents.
“To my mom and my dad, everything I do is for them,” said Lynch, who has a necklace with his parents’ ashes. “I just thought they probably would want me to play. They wouldn’t want me to give up on stuff just because they’re not here; they’d want me to keep going so I’m going to keep going.
“They meant a whole lot. My mom taught me how to be strong and that you can get through whatever no matter what. My dad showed me to be strong too. They’re always on my mind every day.”
Lynch’s teammates and coaches have been by his side throughout it all.
“The other texts were from his teammates asking, ‘What can I do? How can I help him?’” said GNB Voc-Tech head coach Justin Cruz. “This is before they knew if he was going to play. At that point who knew. The support he has from his peers here is because of who he is. He had adversity before he got here and the way he carries himself is unbelievable….
For Lynch, this season is about more than football. “It just feels good,” he said. “It feels normal.”
