Army West Point Athletics
Black Knights Welcome Abby to the Volleyball Family
October 24, 2017 | Volleyball
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point volleyball family welcomed its newest member on Tuesday as Abigail Dougherty signed on to be adopted by the Black Knights.
Abby is a 17-year old girl who was born with bilateral optic nerve atrophy. She is legally blind and this summer was diagnosed with childhood cancer - Rhabdomyosarcoma and was connected with the Black Knights through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
The team welcomed Abby on Tuesday for an official signing in Gillis Field House in front of the team and members of the Army West Point Athletic Staff. Jaclyn Murphy, the founder of FOJ Foundation was represented by her father Dennis and he spoke about the program and also introduced Abby and her family. Abby's mother, Kerry, grandparents and younger sister, Bridget, were all in attendance for the uplifting event.
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"Abby has a small group of friends," Kerry explained to the team. "As a mother, it breaks my heart but it doesn't break my spirit. Meeting and becoming a part of the Friends of Jaclyn Family has been an uplifting inspiration to say the least. They have made us a part of something and have given us something to look forward to and have flooded Abby and our family with Love and Hope."Â
Head coach Alma Kovaci Lee officially welcomed Abby into the volleyball family with the signing of his letter to become the newest Black Knight.
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation began in 2005 when Jaclyn became connected to, and later adopted, as an honorary member of the Northwestern women's lacrosse team. She was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor as a nine-year-old, and was part of the team as Northwestern won the school's first NCAA Championship.
The program was born by her father, Dennis, after Jaclyn shared her dream to have all of the sick children adopted onto a team of their own. So, in 2005, the Murphy Family created the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
Jaclyn graduated from Marist College last fall and told her inspirational story to the Black Knights as well.
Abby is a 17-year old girl who was born with bilateral optic nerve atrophy. She is legally blind and this summer was diagnosed with childhood cancer - Rhabdomyosarcoma and was connected with the Black Knights through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
The team welcomed Abby on Tuesday for an official signing in Gillis Field House in front of the team and members of the Army West Point Athletic Staff. Jaclyn Murphy, the founder of FOJ Foundation was represented by her father Dennis and he spoke about the program and also introduced Abby and her family. Abby's mother, Kerry, grandparents and younger sister, Bridget, were all in attendance for the uplifting event.
Â
"Abby has a small group of friends," Kerry explained to the team. "As a mother, it breaks my heart but it doesn't break my spirit. Meeting and becoming a part of the Friends of Jaclyn Family has been an uplifting inspiration to say the least. They have made us a part of something and have given us something to look forward to and have flooded Abby and our family with Love and Hope."Â
Head coach Alma Kovaci Lee officially welcomed Abby into the volleyball family with the signing of his letter to become the newest Black Knight.
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation began in 2005 when Jaclyn became connected to, and later adopted, as an honorary member of the Northwestern women's lacrosse team. She was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor as a nine-year-old, and was part of the team as Northwestern won the school's first NCAA Championship.
The program was born by her father, Dennis, after Jaclyn shared her dream to have all of the sick children adopted onto a team of their own. So, in 2005, the Murphy Family created the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
Jaclyn graduated from Marist College last fall and told her inspirational story to the Black Knights as well.
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