CESAR L. LAURE, Allentown Morning Call, July 16, 2007
Brett Snyder (right) is a former Northwestern High and Lehigh U. football player who is battling ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. He and best friend Kody Fedorcha (left) have been instrumental in forming a new nonprofit organization, the Tackle ALS Foundation. Monies raised will go to this organization.


By Keith Groller | Of The Morning Call
July 25, 2007


Over the past few summers, the Northwestern Lehigh community has come together in large numbers and with deep pockets to rally around one of their own.

From the moment Brett Snyder, the former Northwestern and Lehigh University football star, was diagnosed with ALS, he has been surrounded with support and loving care.

A car wash/raffle in 2005 and alumni flag football games the past two summers raised between $20,000 and $25,000 for Snyder's medical expenses.



But when a third annual alumni flag football extravaganza is held on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium, the focus will change slightly.

Rather than benefit Snyder only, all proceeds will benefit his Tackle ALS Foundation.

In his typically unselfish manner, Snyder wants to use his night to help others.

''I'm doing fine; I'm doing OK thanks to the gracious generosity and support of the Northwestern community,'' he said. ''It's time for me to pass that generosity along so that we can help others. That's why we've founded the Tackle ALS Foundation.''

On its Web site -- http://www.tackleals.org -- the organization's mission statement is: ''To increase community awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, through organized sporting events, print and media avenues, educational programs, and scholarship offerings with local high schools and colleges.''

Even further, Tackle ALS ''educates and encourages others to spread awareness about this disease that affects all ages, and to support research aimed at early diagnosis and detection of ALS.''

Kody Fedorcha, once a rival player at Northern Lehigh who became Snyder's close friend and teammate at Lehigh, is a member of the Tackle ALS board of directors.

''This has been a Northwestern event for the last two years and that's great because it has been wonderful to see so many come together for a good cause, but we'd like to make it more of a Lehigh Valley event and get more schools and communities involved,'' said Fedorcha, who stays connected with Lehigh football as a radio broadcaster.

''We're looking for ideas as to how we can expand this and get the word out because ALS impacts people everywhere, not just in the Northwestern Lehigh area. We don't want to put the burden solely on the Northwestern and Northern Lehigh communities. We want to broaden the appeal for people throughout the Lehigh Valley and region.''

The event is sponsored by the Northwestern Lehigh Football Booster Club and will feature two Tiger alumni flag football games at 6 and 8 p.m.

In addition, the night will feature a Chinese auction, concessions, T-shirt sales and a carnival atmosphere that will include a moon bounce, face painting, dunk tank, and basketball shoot-out.

A ''Punt, Pass, and Kick'' competition will be open to all ages and prizes will be awarded to the top participants.

''This event has evolved into something more for the whole family,'' Fedorcha said. ''It's a great way to spend a night and enjoy yourself for a good cause.''

And while Snyder is deflecting the attention to Tackle ALS and all people who are battling the dreaded disease that has a growing diagnosis rate of 5,000 Americans per year, much of the focus will remain on Snyder himself.

''The amount of love and compassion that the people of this area have shown me has been amazing,'' he said. ''The support makes me feel as though I just graduated from Northwestern last year, not in 1996. People want to know how I'm doing and they want to know how they can help. Sometimes, I have no idea who the people are. They just care. It's awesome to feel that kind of love and support.''

For those who want to know how he's doing, Snyder said: ''I'm doing well. I'm far from where I want to be. I am still looking for a full recovery and that's what I'm striving for and I'm still looking at all of the options with new drug trials and so on. I'm fortunate that this is progressing very slowly and I am able to live a pretty normal life right now.''

Snyder was married to the former Carissa Seng last Dec. 28 and since she is a counselor at Northwestern, he's able to keep close tabs on the current Tigers. They now live in Macungie, near his pal Fedorcha.

''I'd do anything and everything to support Brett and Tackle ALS is something to rally around,'' Fedorcha said. ''When Brett was diagnosed with ALS, I was living in California. It made me realize what's really important in life is to be close to family and friends and it's one of the reasons why I moved home. Brett is like family to me. We became friends when we went through the recruiting process at Lehigh. The kind of player and teammate he was symbolizes all that's good in sports.

''The people who meet Brett for the first time will first recognize him for his accolades in football. After you meet him, you'll remember him for much more.''

For more info, e-mail Snyderc1@nwlehighsd.org.

keith.groller@mcall.com

http://www.mcall.com/sports/other/al...,3621934.story