BELLEVILLE, Ont. - In a spectacular display of unity, the Loyalist Lancers and the George Brown Huskies joined forces on Nov. 28 at their basketball doubleheader to show their support for nine-year old Thomas Martin.

In June of this year, Thomas was diagnosed with gliomatosis cerebri, a rare form of brain cancer that primarily affects children and adolescents. Thomas and his family live in Belleville, Ont., and regularly travel to Toronto to Hospital for Sick Children to appointment and treatments.

To help with medical expenses, the Lancers held a fundraiser that included selling T-shirts which said Together We Are Stronger and Team Thomas.

At half time of the women's game with both teams remaining in the gym and wearing their Team Thomas shirts, Thomas was welcomed into the Lancerdome with a standing ovation and a "Let's Go Thomas" cheer that brought more than a few tears.

After receiving gifts of swag from the captains of both the Lancers and Huskies teams, Thomas fired up the clippers and began to cut some hair.

At the receiving end of the clippers was men's volleyball player and team captain Adam Strickland. When he approached the Loyalist athletics department weeks earlier about wanting to do something meaningful when he finally got his hair cut after a year long hiatus, it was an easy decision.

"Adam is such a quality guy and when he told us he was interested in cutting off his hair as a fundraiser, we knew it would be a great opportunity to really do something special," said Loyalist athletic director Jim Buck. "We heard about Thomas' fight and immediately wanted to help."

"It was when the Huskies jumped on board with us that we really started to realize that this event was bigger than sport," continues Buck. "We contacted our colleagues at George Brown to let them know what we had planned and they were 100 per cent supportive."

Together We Are Stronger quickly became the motto of the evening, with all four teams warming up in their yellow Team Thomas shirts.

Despite the competitive attitude that drives varsity athletes, it was evident on Friday night at the Lancerdome that Buck was right, that there are some things that are bigger than sport - and Thomas Martin's fight is one of them.

FINAL SCORE:
WBB|  Lancers 62, Huskies 50
MBB | Lancers Lancers 104, Huskies 96
TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER

Source: Loyalist College