The rain pounded, the wind swirled, the music pulsed, the hotdogs were devoured and the sun graced the spring green playing fields, and in 2008, Evanfest scored again!

On Sunday, dozens of area youth boys lacrosse teams manned the athletic fields at Malvern Prep to face off, check, scoop and pass at the Second Annual Evanfest Youth Lacrosse Festival.

Evan Brady, who played for the Rose Tree Optimist Youth Club prior to entering Malvern Prep, was a 2005 graduate of Malvern who lost his fight with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) on September 21, 2005. To help other families overcome the overwhelming burdens of a debilitating illness, Evan’s parents, Patrice and Bill, created Evanfest, a yearly festival for U-15 and U-13 lacrosse players whose purpose is described in the festival’s website as “Laxgiving for children in need.”

Even having been postponed from the original date of April 5 because of poor field conditions, Evanfest lost no momentum, enthusiasm, number of teams participating or volunteer involvement this year.

 “Today’s festivities celebrate the life and determination of Evan Brady. EvanFest brings the lacrosse community together to help kids who are facing tragic situations. All of the participants are winners. There is something bigger they are working toward than simply goals in the crease,” said Jamie Wasson, Malvern Prep’s Middle School Varsity Coach.

Among the people helped by the proceeds of Evanfest are a 21-year-old woman from Coatesville with Ewings Sarcoma, an 11-year-old Delaware County boy with restrictive cardiomyopathy, a 22-year-old Ridley High School graduate with lymphoma, and an 8-year-old boy with brain cancer and subsequent diabetes.

“Evan Brady’s life was a means to a bigger and fuller life for other families,” said Bill Mills, Malvern Prep’s Athletic Trainer. “Evan’s spirit for life lives on through the positive attitude of the Brady family and all of those on the playing fields and the sidelines, today.”