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The Annual Medford Classic
ABOUT US
Our Mission
To honor Brian P. Medford's life and raise awareness of blood cancers through a community event benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
History
The First Annual Medford Classic was held in August of 2006 at St. Bonaventure Gymnasium as a CYO basketball game between the Old School (Brian's former CYO teammates and friends) and the New School (the current CYM team for St. Bonaventure). Mark Mares started this organization as a way for friends and family to honor Brian's life and raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which helps others battling blood cancers, just as Brian had. The First Annual Medford Classic was a huge success, raising $1,365.25 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!
The Second Annual Medford Classic was held in September of 2007 at Kiwanis Park Basketball Courts in Shaler on a beautiful afternoon. With a new location and revised event, the Annual Medford Classic chairs wanted to branch out into the community for more involvement and awareness. The event developed into a 3-on-3 double elimination basketball tournament with raffles, concessions, and more. At the end of the day we had raised $1,534 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The Third Annual Medford Classic was held on July 19, 2008 for the second year at Basketball Courts in Kiwanis Park in Shaler. Another beautiful day brought many family members, friends, and community members to the event to raise $2,150 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, surpassing our goal of a $2,000 donation! With 17 teams in the tournament, a half time skills competition to win a Willie Parker autographed football, over 15 raffle baskets including Steeler tickets, the Third Annual Medford Classic was a success that left us anticipating the event next year in 2009.
The Fourth Annual Medford Classic was held on July 25, 2009 at Kiwanis Basketball Courts. We held off some rain, and raised an amazing $7000 in one day! We introduced a dunk tank, face painting, and a duck pond, as well as great prizes and treats! The day was the largest success to date, and we are very thankful to everyone who participated and came out to support us! Thanks everyone, see you next year!!
The Fifth Annual Medford Classic, held on August 21, 2010 at Kiwanis Basketball Courts, was another huge success. $5300 was raised to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! Medford Classic T-shirts were introduced in BRIGHT colors, an Apple iPAD was raffled off, and the dunk tank had another successful year! Can't wait to see what the 6th Annual event will bring!
We would also like to share with you the story of Brian's treatments and struggles with Leukemia over the years, as written by his mother, Jeanne Krachala.
Brian Philip Medford
7/27/1985 – 3/14/2006
Brian came into this world on Saturday, July 27th 1985 with a head full of red hair. He never had more than an ear infection while growing up until December 5th, 1995. For several weeks before, Brian had complained of joint pain, though it never stopped him from playing and going to school, so it was chalked up to “growing pains”. Unfortunately, this was not the case. After a brief visit to the family doctor
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and some blood tests, Brian was diagnosed with A.L.L., Acute Lymphocyte Leukemia. At the age of 10 ½, in 5th grade, he started an intense chemotherapy regiment to get into remission. He was not allowed to return to school for one year, which was the time frame that it took to complete the intense part of his treatment. He was home schooled during that time. In January of 1997, now in 6th grade, Brian was finally able to return to school. For 2 ½ more years, Brian would receive “maintenance” chemotherapy to make sure the cancer cells did not return.
Brian excelled in school and graduated in 2003 with High Honors from Shaler Area High School. He then enrolled at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park. After more than eight years from his original diagnosis, Brian’s cancer was just a distant memory, never thinking it could ever possibly return… We were wrong.
In Brian’s freshman year at Penn State, he returned home for the Thanksgiving break feeling extremely run down and very pale. We went to the doctors where they immediately ran blood tests and our worst fears were confirmed; Brian’s Leukemia had returned. Brian would again have to receive intense chemotherapy to get back into remission. He completed the heavy part of his treatment by the spring of 2004 and would again remain on maintenance chemotherapy to keep the cancer at bay. Brian returned to State College in the fall of 2004 to resume his studies. He would come home once a month for his chemotherapy treatments. For the next year, Brian would overcome several obstacles including Pneumonia and Shingles resulting from his low immune system. But during all of the bumps in the road, Brian remained in school with a very good GPA and positive attitude, and he was totally enjoying college life with his friends and his girl friend.
In October of 2005, Brian was home for a routine chemotherapy treatment when his doctor, out of concern due to a continuous low white blood cell count, decided to test his bone marrow. The results were not what we expected. Brian’s cancer had returned for the third time. The doctors decided Brian’s only hope at this point was a bone marrow transplant.
Brian’s sister, Amanda, was the only possible “related” donor. Siblings have only a 25% chance of matching, at best… it turned out not to be. The National Donor Registry was now Brian’s only chance of finding a compatible donor. It took until late January of 2006 but they finally found one. Brian entered Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on January 31, 2006 to start the prep work for his transplant. This included the strongest chemotherapy that he had ever endured and full body radiation, twice a day, for 4 days. This was all done to kill off any remaining cancer cells that may have been floating around. Unfortunately, it also kills off the good cells too, leaving him very weak and with absolutely no immune system. Brian received his Transplant on Thursday, February 9th, 2006.
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Brian was so brave and fought so hard. He started to graft new white blood cells 13 days after his transplant, which being the competitive person he was, he wanted to know if that was a record. The doctors told him it was very good. Unfortunately, from all the years of chemotherapy and the intense radiation he received, his organs were damaged to the point that they would not be able to recover. Brian’s fight ended, due to multiple organ failure on Tuesday, March 14th, 2006 at 6:30pm.
Brian fought so hard to achieve his record of 3-0 (Anyone who knew Brian was very familiar with these statistics). When Brian’s autopsy was completed, there was no cancer to be found anywhere in his body. He did it…
Brian – 3
Cancer – 0