In our troubled world, it’s good to be able to do something good, effective, and within our reach. Especially something that can be life-saving.
Alex Tirado started the 999 Squat challenge last year to honor and remember Lazar LaPenna, the ten-year-old Little Leaguer who died at first base.
This year, supporters of the Lazar LaPenna Foundation turned out on April 27th for the Squat challenge.
Suporters came out in all ages and sizes
Some got there early,
Some came to try to match Alex’s 999 squat mark,
Some had their own particular style.
They came to honor,
to cheer,
to volunteer,
and donate.
There was a 50/50 $10 per ticket raffle with proceeds going to the Lazar LaPenna Foundation.
As the event drew near 990 squats, some grew weary, while others took snack breaks,
At 998 Alex met the final challenge with a final burst,
to victory,
And now, the rest of the story
April 29, 2022, ten-year-old Lazar cracked a clean single through the hole. He tore to first, smiled at the coach, his dad, then collapsed in a heart-stopping seizure. Lazar died for lack of an AED on that ballfield.
The 999 Squat Challenge was a big success, with recent before and after funds totalling over $20,000.
Gregg LaPenna was delighted with the support. He told me, ” I look forward to using this money to help others and to see that something like this never happens again.”
The Lazar LaPenna Foundation was established to raise funds like this to ensure that other young sports enthusiasts don’t suffer Lazar’s fate. They work to ensure that every ballfield, summer camp, and recreational facility is equipped with an A E D.
Many long-time supporters of Lazar’s family contributed to this and past events, but this blog cannot accommodate all those names and businesses. However, I feel I must mention some donors the LaPennas spoke of, like Amy Powers of the Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association and Miguel of the Long Beach USA wrestling and Lacrosse Association.
Understandably, they watched young Lazar grow into the happy student and enthusiastic athlete he became. The LaPennas are deeply grateful to all who have supported them in their efforts to protect kids like Lazar.
Yes, it was a joyful and generous turnout.
But I wasn’t the only one present to wonder why our local, state, or federal government isn’t doing its job to provide these life-saving tools for our kids. An A E D at all sports venues conveys who we are as a community, just as we say it with the gentle slopes at our sidewalk corners for the disabled.
We provide Narcan to help those who get their thrills from hits, while we ignore little kids whose hits are the thrills.
Lazar was a good kid. He worked hard at school and in sports, but most of all, he worked at being a good ten-year-old kid.
There’s always room to improve life on our little blue planet. Whether we realize it or not, every word we say and every action we take affects humankind.
Improving life is a team effort. Most of us have decades to influence the human condition, one at-bat at a time.
Others have a much shorter time. But through these singular efforts, civilization evolves for the better. These batting opportunities keep coming throughout our lives—like standing up for kids’ safety,
In our time on earth, we can’t all hit grand slam homers, like Jonas Salk (finder of the Polio vaccine) or Clara Barton (founder of the Red Cross), but we can smack a single occasionally for good causes; it all counts.
We can live on long after we’re gone through a well-lived life, however long or short it may be. We can make a difference, now and after we’re physically gone, as Lazar lives on.
The Lazar LaPenna Foundation is accepting Zelle donations here.
Check Donations payable to:
Bats Out For Lazar Inc
16 Boyd Street
Long Beach NY 11561
Coming Soon:
Order from Lazar Merch Shop in partnership with
Lazar T-shirts are available at Lincoln Ave. on the boards
Join the Lazar Lapenna Mail List to follow future events
Pitch in and give, so a little kid can live.
Be well,
Leebythesea
See my alternate blog, Wherethesundontshine
Categories: Life's journey, Little League
leebythesea 
Kathleen, thank you so much. Yes, it was great to see such support in honoring Lazar. It’s fantastic to see people come together for such a cause.❤️
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Lori,
I’m so sorry about the loss of your son, Derek to accidental overdose. I said a lot in my reply to John. I’d like to say to you, I know your pain but I don’t. I lost my daughter, long before her time, but to natural causes. It’s not the same, but our children are not supposed to die before we do.
I’m sorry the words, “…thrills from hits,” caused you additional pain. I meant no harm. I just felt Lazar needed AED help from us on that ballfield just as your son needed help from Narcan.
My sincerest apologies for hurting you, you don’t need or deserve that. As you say, “AEDs and Narcan are both life saving tools for our children.”
And both need to be readily available when needed.
Be well,
Sincerely,
Lee
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John,
Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry my comment about Narcan caused “snarky” to be included. I meant no disrespect for those affected by deadly disease.
I never had a family member who was captured by drugs. I did lose a good friend to heroin when I was young. Had Narcan been around he might be reading my words today, but he’s not.
Sometimes prescription drugs given for pain become a greater pain of addiction. Many in today’s movies, on TV, and live stand-up, make light of drug use, joke about it as cool. And many of us, especially our susceptible young go for it, to be cool, to be in.
There’s an attitude in America that’s okay with drug use. It flows across our border in tonnage. Maybe we need more emphasis on getting high on sunsets, salty air, the flight of a bird—or anything other than drugs.
But too often Americans are caught in substance abuse, and sometimes with deadly consequences. I’m glad Narcan is here to help them survive, to give them another chance to escape the disease of substance abuse.
We can do everything right in being supportive of those we love, but they still may become snared into the disease. My heart goes out to all who have been affected by drugs, in so many ways, in our society.
My focus was on the absolute innocence of a young boy, being cool, getting a smile from his dad, by getting a hit on a Little League ball field. And not having the help that should have been there.
Be well,
Sincerely,
Lee
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This is certainly a tragic story, and the drive to provide AED’s at all ball fields is commendable. I must add that your comment on Narcan “for those who get their thrills from hits” is an uneducated and hurtful statement. Addiction, like heart disease is an illness, and as such, requires compassion and education, not snarky comments.
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I as so saddened by the tragic death of this beautiful young boy, Lazar. I also lost my son, Derek, to accidental overdose, while trying to rehab from substance use disorder. To reduce his suffering as “those who get thrills from hits” serves to show why this stigma continues to exist. AED’s and Narcan are both life saving tools for our children
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Looks like a fabulous turnout for the event. Such positivity and action in the wake of such sadness. What a special way to remember and honor Lazar. ❤️
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Rich, thank you for your comment. Yes, people do make a difference with their generosity. The community comes together, when needed, and it’s needed so often when government fails to do their jobs. Thanks again.
Be well,
Lee
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Such a sad thing had to happen to open the eyes of those responsible. So glad that there are people who care, whose emotions and generosity help make a difference, especially in the lives of children
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