Annual soccer scrimmages support Evan Thornton
Blue Knights Men’s Soccer Team
Evan Thornton
On April 20, 2013, Blue Knights men’s soccer at Dakota County Technical College hosted the team’s annual spring scrimmages at the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount, Minn. About 200 fans, players, family and community members attended the scrimmages, which included a fundraiser to support Evan Thornton, a local 10-year-old diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a type of primary bone cancer. The event brought in $750 to help pay for Evan’s cancer treatments.
The Knights took on the University of Wisconsin-Superior varsity, coming from behind to defeat the Yellowjackets 3–2. In the following game, UW Superior’s JV scrimmaged ACME, a men’s team in Monday Division D2 of the Minnesota Recreational Soccer League, or MRSL. Evan’s father, Mike Thornton, is a member of ACME and a longtime community soccer player.
“This event was a great way for our young college athletes to recognize the struggles faced by Evan and his family,” said DCTC Head Soccer Coach Cam Stoltz. “The scrimmages fostered kindness through the sport of soccer and gave our players the opportunity to support a local community member in a time of great need.”
Greg James, a friend of the Thornton family, was at the scrimmages collecting donations for Evan. “This was a fun event and I am very pleased with the funds raised,” James said. “The $750 will help Evan and his family pay for Evan’s hospital bills.”
The latest news from Evan’s mother, Trina Thornton, reports that Evan will be receiving whole-lung irradiation at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Whole-lung irradiation is often used on Ewing’s sarcoma patients with pulmonary metastases that do not respond to chemotherapy.
To learn more about how you can support Evan in his battle against cancer, please visit and like his Facebook page, Evan Thornton – Punch Cancer In Dah Face, and follow Evan’s story on CaringBridge.org. A benefit will be held for Evan Sunday, May 5, 2013, at The Bulldog Uptown from 2 p.m. till 6 p.m. Donations can be mailed to:
Evan Joseph Thornton Benefit Fund
TCF National Bank
801 Marquette Avenue
#100
Minneapolis, MN 55402
For more information about Blue Knights soccer, contact:
- Cam Stoltz
Athletics Coordinator and Head Soccer Coach
651-423-8462
We want to thank The Blue Knights Soccer Team, as well as Greg James, ACME Soccer and everyone who participated in this wonderful event. Your donations have provided us the ability to continue chemotherapy treatments and perhaps look at some experimental treatments that may needed. Again, Thank you so very much for the generous gift you have given our entire family. Now, play Ball!! OXOXO Evan Thornton and the whole family 🙂
Very cool write-up Cam! Thanks to DCTC for hosting the event and inviting the guys from ACME to participate.