Sept. 17: Special Drafting Ceremony by SAS Boys Lacrosse
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School will officially draft DJ and Jaxen Mojica as its newest, honorary varsity boys lacrosse team members on Sunday, September 17 at 3:30 pm inside the St. Andrew’s Upper School library. St. Andrew’s sophomore Ethan Hanna and senior Cason Doyle will serve as student ambassadors to the Mojica family.
"We are beyond thrilled to welcome DJ, his brother Jaxen, and parents Ashlei and Rocky Mojica to the St. Andrew’s Boys Lacrosse program,” Head Coach Josh Blumenthal said. "We hope to enhance the lives of both boys, as well as those of our current team members, through this unique and supportive relationship."
The Mojica family will be officially welcomed to the team during a draft party, at which time the brothers will sign official draft letters, and receive game jerseys. DJ and Jaxen have already accepted their official men's lacrosse apparel along with their own personal lacrosse sticks as they get set to cheer on their teammates.
"We look forward to including DJ and Jaxen in as many activities as their schedule allows, and consider ourselves fortunate to have the entire Mojica family become a part of our family," Blumenthal added.
DJ Mojica is a seven-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) at 17 months old. He survived three brain surgeries to stop a brain bleed, tumor resection and shunt placement. DJ then completed three rounds of chemotherapy at Dell Children's Hospital and an additional three rounds of high dose therapy with stem cell rescue at Methodist Children's Hospital in San Antonio. In December 2013 a new spot was found on one of DJ's routine MRI's. He had surgery to remove the new spot. Preliminary pathology showed that the spot was made of the same tissue as the original tumor.
DJ’s brother Jaxen Mojica is a six-year-old kindergartner who stays active playing football and baseball. He and DJ are eager to learn to play and help coach lacrosse this spring.
The match between DJ, Jaxen, and St. Andrew’s was made during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month and came about from the work with the Friends of Jaclyn (FOJ), a nonprofit organization based in New York. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers and to raise awareness through their Adopt-A-Child, Safe on the Sidelines, and Guardian Angel Programs.
St. Andrew’s joins the rapidly growing list of FOJ school partners, which includes the University of Cincinnati (baseball), Amherst College (field hockey), University of New Hampshire (men’s ice hockey), Lake Forest College (football), and University of Florida (softball).
