The Leyden Lions Minor League Football is a 501(c)(3) Non-for-Profit organization. We would like to take this opportunity to request support for our 2009 charity football game raising funds to benefit Friends of Fiona (O'Neill).

Fiona O'Neill a 12-year-old little girl who has a rare blood disorder called Methemoglobinemia Type II, a disorder that has her blood lacking an essential enzyme. As an infant, Fiona was given injections of this enzyme, but it was later determined to not only be lacking from her blood but her tissues as well. There is no known cure and comparable cases are almost non-existent, with only two similar cases. Due to this disease, she has suffered many other consequences. She has had numerous surgeries, including a tracheotomy to help her breathe and a feeding tube placement for nourishment and medication application. At times she has gone days without sleep, other times she has been on a ventilator and yet other times she has endured hospital stays up to 14 weeks in duration and this is all in conjunction with cerebral palsy.

Fiona has never walked or talked. Her family has not heard her cry since she was about eight months old when she had her tracheotomy. Imagine a mother's heartbreak when she can't tell if her child is in pain.... As you can imagine the financial burden is extreme and the Leyden Lions are dedicated to help in any way they can.

Your contribution will provide our organization the ability to have a successful fundraiser benefitting Fiona O'Neill.

The Friends of Fiona charity game hosted by the Leyden Lions will be held 06/27/2009 at 6 p.m. at Ralph Serpico Memorial Field, 1000 N 25th, Melrose Park, IL.

For more information please contact me or visit our website at www.leydenlions.com