Coach L, the Worldball, and Gunston visit INOVA Fairfax Hospital

"It was so wonderful that you were able to arrange for Coach Larranaga and his team to come visit our patients in the pediatric hospital. It was all they could talk about for the rest of the day. You all really brightened up their hospital stay. It shows what a big heart Coach Larranaga and his team have off as well as on the court!" - Nurse Mollie Cavalieri



GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL COACH TEAMS WITH SOCIETY TO GIVE INOVA HOSPITAL KIDS THE WORLD

Download Full Media Advisory (Microsoft Word Doc)

Alexandria, VA – December 10, 2007— The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Capital Area Chapter is teaming up with George Mason University Men’s Head Basketball Coach, Jim Larranaga, and the Mason Geography Department to provide a special gift to children hospitalized at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children.

On Tuesday, December 18, Coach Larranaga, and members of the Mason basketball and cheerleading squads will visit Inova to distribute The World Ball, an official NCAA-sized basketball that looks like a globe, to children who are hospitalized. The World Ball was developed in 2006 as a result of a collaboration between Dr. Allan Falconer, Chair of the Mason Geography Department, and Coach Larranaga.

The World Ball provides a fun activity for the hospitalized children, while also helping them gain basic knowledge about the world’s geography. Many children who battle cancers like leukemia spend days, weeks, months and years in treatment and are often confined to their hospital rooms.

WHO: George Mason University Men’s Head Basketball Coach Jim Larranaga, Members of the Mason basketball and cheerleading squads, The National Capital Area Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children

WHAT: Giving Children the World: A fun morning of geography quizzes, gifting basketballs and autograph signing with Mason Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Jim Larranaga and members of the Mason Basketball and Cheerleading Squads

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children, Children’s Play Room, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA, 22042

REPORTER CHECK-IN: Take the Blue Entrance off Gallows Road and park at the Women and Children's Entrance – an escort will meet reporters in the lobby.

To learn more about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the programs and services offered to cancer patients and their families, please contact the National Capital Area Chapter as 703-960-1100 or visit www.lls.org/nca.



Coach L's quiz deadline has been extended!

Coach L's quiz deadline has been extended from November 30th 2007 to December 18th 2007. So, challange yourself and take Coach L's Geography Quiz!



Video Recap of World Ball Night

The night was a huge success!! Check out the video recap below:



Coach L World Ball Night - November 17th!!!


My Wonderful World cordially invites all of our friends in the DC area to attend a special local event this Geography Awareness Week. We've teamed up with George Mason University to host "Coach L's World Ball Night." So come cheer on the Mason Patriots men's basketball team as they take on the Universityof Dayton Flyers November 17th.

We're excited to be able to offer tickets at a special discount rate of only $6. Just click here, and enter the password "Patriots".

The game is sure to be nothing short of awesome, with something to enjoy for all ages. An action-packed half-time show will feature local students from Virginia and DC in a contest of geography and basketball skills - all on giant maps of Asia! Throughout the game there will tons of chances to win prizes, including t-shirts and a raffle for 100 World Balls. We're even giving away world maps and temporary tattoos to every fan at to the game. No one will go home empty-handed!

Post Taken from My Wonderful World Blog