Notre Dame Women's Lacrosse | Mar. 29, 2014 | Notre Dame Athletics
The Notre Dame women's lacrosse team has 33 student-athletes on its roster. While not included on that list, the name that inspires many of those 33 the most is their honorary teammate for the March 19 game against Marquette, number 25, six-year old "Batman" Bobby Russell.
Fittingly listed just ahead of his "girlfriend" No. 26 Katherine McManus, Bobby, six years old and in his third year battling cancer, became introduced to the team through the Fighting Irish Fight For Life program which, through the office of student Welfare and development, pairs Fighting Irish teams with patients in pediatric hematology and oncology at South Bend Memorial Hospital.
The student-athletes' love and support may mean a tremendous amount to Bobby as he undergoes his chemotherapy and other treatments, but he actually means even more to them. Facing the academic rigors of Notre Dame, coupled with the time commitment of playing a varsity sport at the ACC level, is an arduous experience. McManus never needs to be reminded how lucky she is to be saddled with such relatively minor burdens.
"It puts everything in perspective for us as athletes," she said. "They're fighting for their lives. We're just fighting for some wins.